Testosterone is a hormone that makes a man, well, a man. In a man’s body, testosterone regulates the sex drive, controls bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass, strength, and production of red blood cells and sperms. Therefore, a man’s overall health, especially sexual health and reproduction, are highly dependent on it. Today, we will have a detailed discussion about the importance of testosterone in a person’s life and how to keep an optimum testosterone level.

Overview

Testosterone hormone is not only found in humans but also in some other animals. In men, the testicles are the primary source of testosterone, while women’s ovaries can also produce a smaller amount of it. The production of testosterone starts during puberty and can start to reduce at the age of 30 or so. Testosterone mainly regulates the sex drive and sperm generation of men. Additionally, muscle and bone mass, fat generation, and red blood production are also regulated by it. Moreover, a man’s mood can also be affected by testosterone. 

Testosterone Imbalance

The importance of anything can be observed when there’s an imbalance. As we can see, there can occur several dysfunctions in a person’s health if there’s an imbalance of testosterone. A man with a low testosterone level will have a reduced sex drive which can additionally cause erectile dysfunction, low sperm count, enlarged or swollen breast tissues. Over time, these symptoms will develop and can decrease body hair and muscle bulk while the person loses strength and gains body fat. Mood swings, reduced energy, and testicular shrinkage can occur due to chronic or ongoing low testosterone levels. 

There are several reasons for a man to develop a low testosterone level. The causes include:

• Testicular injury
• Infections of the testicles
• Medications
• Pituitary tumors
• High prolactin levels
• Chronic diseases like HIV, diabetes, kidney and liver diseases, obesity
• Genetic diseases

High testosterone levels in men can trigger puberty before the age of nine. However, it is quite rare.

On the other hand, the high testosterone levels in women can also cause significant problems. It can induce male pattern baldness in women, deepen their voices, and menstrual irregularities. The additional problems it brings are:

• Growth and swelling of the clitoris
• Change in body shape
• Reduce breast size
• Oily skin
• Acne
• Hair growth around face, body, lips, and chin

Effect of Aging on Testosterone Level

Testosterone levels in men naturally decrease with the increase of age. This phenomenon has recently been brought to attention as the problems are arising in huge waves. After the age of 40, the concentration of circulating testosterone decreases about 1.6 percent every year. About 4 in 10 men can be diagnosed with low testosterone levels within the age of 45. With this, the mortality rate of male humans has increased as well. Recently it has been recognized as a medical condition in spite of the symptoms being associated with aging. The prominent symptoms of low testosterone are:

• Diminished erectile function quickly, especially at night
• Decreased libido
• Mood changes
• Reduction of cognitive function
• Reduction in strength and muscle density
• Decreased body hair
• Changes in skin
• Decrease in bone mass and bone mineral density
• Increase in body fat.

The degree to which testosterone levels decline varies from men to men. However, the number of men affected by this is constantly increasing. As life expectancy has been increased, most men now live more than 60 years, and they are affected by age-related testosterone depletion.

Treatment

It is fairly evident that testosterone is a must for living a healthy life. So we have researched a few ways to regulate testosterone levels to lead a healthy life. The procedures are discussed below:

Testosterone Supplements

There are few testosterone supplements that are approved by the FDA. However, doctors often avoid prescribing them due to the rapid metabolization of testosterone with the liver. Eventually, it can cause liver toxicity. However, older adults with a severe medical condition along with low testosterone levels may be prescribed these supplements depending on the patient’s need. 

Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Testosterone replacement therapy can help in restoring the affected function due to low testosterone. It can be administered by skin gels and patches, injections, or tablets that can be absorbed through the gums. However, these can trigger substantial side effects like increasing red blood cell counts, prostate and breast enlargement, and acne. In rare cases, this therapy can induce breathing difficulties during sleep and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the doctors may not suggest this therapy to men aged under 65.

Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy is the most natural way to improve testosterone levels and can be highly beneficial for the patient. In this therapy, one simply needs to expose oneself to the therapy lights. The therapy light penetrates the skin and starts healing the damaged cells. Additionally, red light therapy helps the body regulate the biological clock; thus, the testosterone hormone generation is progressed. Red light therapy has no side effects and can induce healing in a very short time. However, it’s not a permanent solution. One needs to regularly receive therapy to keep the testosterone level in optimum condition. 

Low testosterone levels can cause various severe health problems and hamper a person’s quality of life significantly. So, rapid identification and receiving treatment as soon as possible is highly recommended. Only then can one enjoy one’s life fully.