10 Things Every Man Ought to Know About Testosterone
When you hear the word hormones, you probably used to only associate them with women. Today, hormones for men is commonly talked about, too: namely, testosterone. You’ve seen the TV commercials about low T, and this tells you that many men are suffering from the symptoms of low testosterone. It’s no small problem.
Women are very familiar with the symptoms they experience when their hormones are out of balance, indicating that hormone replacement is needed. So how do you know when a man needs testosterone? As men age, their testosterone levels naturally decline and there are several low testosterone symptoms that can reveal if a man might be deficient in testosterone.
Are you…
…tired all the time and unable to sleep well?
…not getting the results you used to at the gym?
…not as sharp and focused at work?
…gaining a spare tire around your waist?
…feeling depressed and irritable?
…experiencing low libido?
If you have any or all of the above concerns, then it’s time for a testosterone check. Optimal testosterone levels in men is important for way more than strong muscles and a healthy libido, because it affects your overall health and well-being.
Here Are 10 Things Every Man Ought to Know about Testosterone
1. Builds Strong Muscles – Testosterone improves muscle mass, strength and tone, and increases stamina and endurance. Research shows that testosterone, especially when combined with strength training, increases fat-free mass and muscle size and strength in normal men.(1) Research concludes that testosterone replacement in men with low testosterone enhanced skeletal muscle mass. (2) Positive effects on body composition and muscle strength were reported in testosterone therapy studies of males diagnosed or identified as low testosterone, including increases in lean body mass (also termed fat-free mass), muscle volume and area, and muscle strength. (3)
2. Protects Heart Health – Testosterone protects the heart and arteries, decreases risk of heart disease, and lowers blood pressure by dilating the aorta and coronary arteries of the heart. Men with arteriosclerosis generally have low testosterone levels. Research demonstrated that there is no evidence of an increased risk for cardiac problems in men who receive testosterone to treat hypogonadism. For men with high heart attack risk, testosterone use was protective against it. (4,5) Research studies show that short-term administration of testosterone induces a beneficial effect on exercise-induced myocardial ischemia (deficiency of blood supply to heart muscle) in men with coronary artery disease. This effect may be related to a direct coronary-relaxing effect. (6) Research shows that administration of testosterone increases cardiac output through reduction of left ventricular afterload (pressure). (7)
3. Increases Energy – Testosterone helps maintain a healthy metabolism and improve energy. Research concludes that there is a significant increase in basal metabolic rate associated with testosterone treatment. (8)
4. Improves Love Life – Testosterone improves libido. Testosterone levels decline progressively in men as they age, and this decline is associated with reduced sexual function. Similar changes occur in young men with low testosterone and are improved with testosterone replacement therapy. Research shows that testosterone treatment in older men increased libido and sexual activity. (9)
5. Enhances Brain Health – Testosterone enhances cognitive function and memory. It is crucial for maintaining mental sharpness and clarity. Age-related decline in cognitive function was associated with lower concentrations of testosterone in the brain. Research shows that the prevalence of depression in males increases with age as testosterone drops. Spatial cognitive abilities, as well as general cognition and memory, decline with aging and declining testosterone levels. Even a short 6-week testosterone treatment resulted in improved spatial and verbal memory of older men. Testosterone has even showed a positive effect on spatial and verbal memory in Alzheimer disease patients. In men, it has been demonstrated that moderate dosing with testosterone resulted in improved memory. (10) Men with low testosterone showed an increased incidence of depressive illness and a shorter time to diagnosis of depression. (11)
6. Supports Bone Health – Testosterone plays a role in building strong bones. Hypogonadism in adults is a well-acknowledged cause of overall bone loss and a contributor to the development of secondary osteoporosis. Testosterone has a clear direct effect on bone health. Testosterone signaling stimulates osteoblasts to form bone and helps osteocytes prevent bone loss. This leads to decreased bone mineral density and increased fracture risk seen in men with low testosterone. (12) In men with low testosterone, the positive effects of testosterone administration on bone have been known for a long time. Long-term prospective and retrospective studies, in fact, have demonstrated that testosterone replacement is able to improve bone mineral density at both the lumbar spine and the femoral neck. (13) Testosterone therapy increases bone mineral density in hypogonadal men regardless of age. Research shows that in hypogonadal men, bone mineral density can be normalized and maintained in the normal range by continuous, long term testosterone replacement. (14)
7. Increases Quality of Life and Sense of Well-Being – Testosterone increases sense of well-being. Testosterone treatment in older men improved energy and well being. (9) Research shows that testosterone treatment increased the scores patients received on assessments of their general quality of life. Testosterone therapy resulted in overall improvement in quality of life. (15)
8. Enhances Weight Loss – Testosterone decreases body fat around the waist. Research shows that long-term testosterone therapy in men with testosterone deficiency produces significant and sustained weight loss, marked reduction in waist circumference and BMI and improvement in body composition. These findings represent strong foundations for testosterone therapy in obese men with testosterone deficiency. (16)
9. Improves Moods, Anxiety and Depression – In addition to improving moods, testosterone relieves anxiety and depression. Observational studies on older men revealed that their depressive symptoms are associated with low plasma testosterone. (10) Low testosterone causes depression, depressed sex drive, nervousness, irritability, feeling ill at ease, and worry. Research findings suggest that testosterone may produce antidepressant effects in depressed men with low testosterone levels. (17) Testosterone replacement therapy in hypogonadal men improves mood. (18) Research shows that men with low testosterone showed an increased incidence of depression. (19) Research suggests that testosterone treatment might improve depressed moods in older men who have low levels of testosterone. (20)
10. Improves Sleep – Testosterone improves sleep and sleep apnea. Low testosterone causes men to wake up frequently, snore, and wake unrefreshed. Low total testosterone levels are associated with less healthy sleep in older men. Research shows that men with lower testosterone levels had lower sleep efficiency, with increased nocturnal awakenings and less time in slow-wave sleep. Low total testosterone levels are associated with less healthy sleep in older men.(21) Research demonstrates that low testosterone may affect overall sleep quality which is improved by replacement doses of testosterone. (22)
How Harriss Got His Energy and Zest for Life Back
Harriss experienced lack of energy, motivation and focus. He couldn’t think clearly and it was difficult to set business goals. He gained weight and wanted to rest all the time. Learn how Harriss got his energy and zest for life back with bioidentical testosterone. Learn how to feel 25 again!
Do you suffer from low testosterone?
Your overall health depends upon healthy testosterone levels. Don’t wait – take our symptom checker to find out if your symptoms could be caused by low testosterone.
Research
1. The Effects of Supraphysiologic Doses of Testosterone on Muscle Size and Strength in Normal Men
2. Effects of Testosterone Replacement on Muscle Mass and Muscle Protein Synthesis in Hypogonadal Men–a Clinical Research Center Study
3. Additional Studies of Testosterone Therapy
4. Risk of Myocardial Infarction (MI) in Older Men Receiving Testosterone Therapy
5. No Consistent Evidence of an Increased Risk of Heart Problems with Testosterone Medicines
6. Acute Anti-Ischemic Effect of Testosterone in Men With Coronary Artery Disease
7. Acute Hemodynamic Effects of Testosterone in Men with Chronic Heart Failure
8. Effect of Testosterone on Metabolic Rate and Body Composition in Normal Men and Men with Muscular Dystrophy
9. Andropause: Clinical Implications of the Decline in Serum Testosterone Levels With Aging in Men
10. On the Effects of Testosterone on Brain Behavioral Functions
11. Increased Incidence of Diagnosed Depressive Illness in Hypogonadal Older Men
12. Male Hypogonadism and Osteoporosis: The Effects, Clinical Consequences, and Treatment of Testosterone Deficiency in Bone Health
13. Osteoporosis and Male Age-Related Hypogonadism: Role of Sex Steroids on Bone (Patho)Physiology
14. Long-Term Effect of Testosterone Therapy on Bone Mineral Density in Hypogonadal Men
15. Long-Term Testosterone Therapy Improves Urinary, Sexual Function and Quality of Life
16. Testosterone and Weight Loss: The Evidence
17. Testosterone Gel Supplementation for Men with Refractory Depression: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
18. Testosterone Replacement in Hypogonadal Men with Angina Improves Ischaemic Threshold and Quality of Life
19. Increased Incidence of Diagnosed Depressive Illness in Hypogonadal Older Men
20. Bioavailable Testosterone and Depressed Mood in Older Men: The Rancho Bernardo Study
21.The Association of Testosterone Levels with Overall Sleep Quality, Sleep Architecture, and Sleep-Disordered Breathing
22. The Relationship Between Sleep Disorders and Testosterone in Men
