Testosterone is the sex hormone responsible for men developing masculine sexual characteristics, such as the deepening of the voice, the development of muscles, the growth of facial and body hair and the production of sperm.
It is true that testosterone is also present in women, but the amounts are much smaller. On the other hand, if testosterone drops below a certain level, complications begin to appear that can interfere with sexual life.
Over time
Testosterone is made in the testicles, and it may decline as men age, so it’s not uncommon for older men to have problems caused by low levels of this hormone.
According to the American Urological Society, low testosterone is considered when a person has less than 300 nanograms of the hormone per deciliter of blood.
But before making a measurement with laboratory tests, there are some symptoms that may suggest a low level of testosterone, so you should consult your doctor to find out if this is the case.
A first symptom that directly affects sexuality is difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection. This is because testosterone stimulates the tissues of the penis to start a chemical reaction that leads to an erection. However, remember that erection deficiencies can also be due to other factors, such as tobacco use, thyroid problems, high cholesterol, diabetes or high blood pressure.
Continuing with the sexual sphere, a low level of testosterone can cause a reduction in the amount of semen, which is possibly related to fertility problems or simply causes a change in what was normal for a man in his ejaculation.
But the symptoms of this deficiency are not only physical, there can also be a decrease in sexual desire. This is because testosterone plays an important role in this mechanism, both in men and women. It is normal that with age you lose interest in sexual relations a little, but if this change is very drastic, it is time to consult a doctor.
And one more affectation, this time to self-esteem and body self-image, is the greater accumulation of body fat. Men who have low testosterone tend to increase their level of body fat and may even notice an enlargement of their breasts, making them comparable to those of a woman.
Other effects
The low male hormone favors the loss of bone mass. Remember that the bones are in a continuous process of destruction and reconstruction, but when the destruction exceeds the capacity for recovery, the volume of the bones begins to be lost. Testosterone is involved in this process, so a reduction in it can make bones less dense and therefore more vulnerable to fractures.
On the other hand, the sleep cycle is a delicate balance that is maintained by different chemical substances, and one of them is testosterone. This lack can cause difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, in addition to being more likely to develop sleep apnea, a disorder where the person stops breathing for some periods while sleeping.
Added to this, men with low testosterone may experience symptoms that are usually more associated with women in climacteric period (or menopause): hot flashes and mood swings. The former consist of a sudden sensation of intense heat, and the latter refer to situations such as lack of concentration, irritability or depression.
Everything has a solution
The good news is that there are treatments to counter low testosterone levels. The most common is called replacement therapy, where the person is given a synthetic hormone to make up for the deficiency of the natural hormone.
However, this treatment is only prescribed to those who have several of the symptoms related to the problem, and if laboratory studies confirm that testosterone is at especially low levels.
If you can’t or don’t want to take replacement therapy, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising can help increase testosterone levels. Still, remember that these levels drop over time, and you’re never going to have the same amount when you’re young as when you’re older.
And so that you do not stop enjoying your sexual life to the full, but also with caution, we remind you that at AHF Latin America and the Caribbean we offer you free condoms, as well as free HIV screening tests. Locate our offices in your country and learn about all our services.
