Have you noticed that you feel “off your game?”
Do you have trouble sleeping? Have you noticed a change in your libido?
A man’s testosterone declines by about 1% every year after the age of 30 and signs of low testosterone might be hard to detect at first.
We’ll go through the common indicators of Low T and help you decide whether you should see a doctor. Hormone replacement therapies are available for men with low testosterone levels.
- Mood Changes
Mood changes don’t just strike women. If you’ve noticed that you’re feeling irritable for no reason or for extended periods of time, you could have Low T.
A Low T test will show whether you have depressed levels of testosterone, but before you go into the doctor’s office you should do a few things.
Keep a journal of your moods. Are they worsening over time? Do you feel irrational and annoyed much of the time?
Think about when your symptoms started. Has it been a few years or did your moods start to change recently?
- Weight Gain
Look back over the last year. Have you just started to gain weight or has it been gradual?
Gaining weight is not necessarily an indicator of Low T, but symptoms of Low T do include weight gain.
If you’ve noticed that you have gynecomastia, that could mean that your testosterone levels are falling. Breast growth in men is often an indicator that something is wrong with their T levels.
So if you’re dieting and unable to lose weight, ask your doctor about Low T.
- Hair Loss
Hair loss is another potential indicator of Low T. If you’re wondering “do I have Low T?” and you’ve noticed hair loss on your head and your body, go see a doctor.
It’s typical for men to bald as they age, but an indicator of Low T is rapid hair loss on your body. It might be hard to tell if you’re losing hair, so just ask your partner or someone else who sees you every day.
There are several diseases that can lead to low testosterone levels including obesity, diabetes, and kidney disease. Talk to your doctor about hormone replacement therapies.
- Memory Loss
Are you forgetting much more than you used to? Of course, memory loss occurs as we age, but a Low T test might help you understand why your memory has been so foggy.
Testosterone plays a role in memory and cognition. If you’re forgetting your keys every day, wondering what day it is, or finding yourself standing at the fridge for more than a few minutes, talk to a doctor.
Low T is uncommon in men under the age of 30 and could be caused by prescription medications or high cholesterol. In that case, lifestyle changes should improve the condition.
Again, keep a record of your memory loss so you can discuss it with your doctor.
- Fatigue
More than 40% of men over the age of 40 have low testosterone levels. How to tell if you have low testosterone?
Monitor your energy. Are you exhausted from work and taking naps before you go to bed?
Do you have a hard time getting started in the mornings? Are you having trouble going to sleep?
Too often, we ignore symptoms associated with low testosterone because it could be so many other things.
A simple blood test will tell you if you have Low T. Your doctor will show you, but 300 ng/dl or lower is the benchmark for low testosterone conditions.
- Depression
Think about how you used to feel when you were in your 20s and 30s. Do you feel depressed compared to earlier stages in your life?
Depression in men over the age of 40 could be caused by low testosterone levels.
While prescription medications could be partly to blame for Low T, you should still take them until a doctor tells you to stop.
Taking your medication is very important. You might notice that you feel much worse when you are off of it, and that your depression gets better after you start hormone replacement therapy.
Talk to your doctor honestly about what is bothering you. They will do a blood test and make recommendations for your treatment.
- Erectile Dysfunction
If you’ve been having trouble maintaining or achieving an erection, you could have low testosterone.
Erectile dysfunction could be caused by medications, steroid use, or poor blood flow to the penis. It can also be caused by Low T.
Women go through menopause, and men go through what is called “andropause.” It’s a time in life where everything is changing and it may be tempting to just give up and accept limited functioning.
There’s no reason to give up, though. It’s important to talk to your doctor and to make the time to get tested for low testosterone.
You could be surprised by how much better you feel after hormone replacement therapies. It’s simple to get started and it could help you overcome erectile dysfunction and decreased libido.
Other Signs of Low Testosterone
If you’re one of the 15 million Americans who has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you could be looking at low testosterone counts.
Also, if you’re constantly irritable or have insomnia, you might be suffering from Low T.
If you have long periods of stress, you could also be looking at “adrenal fatigue.” Your adrenal glands weren’t meant to be working overtime for weeks, months, or years at a time.
What is causing you stress? It’s better to know if you have Low T because then you can treat it effectively.
We’re Here to Help
BodyLogicMD offers hormone replacement therapy for men who are suffering from low testosterone levels.
We offer individualized consultations and long-term plans for treatment of Low T.
Every doctor who works with us has to undergo more than 200 hours of coursework with the American Academy of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.
Signs of low testosterone can vary from person to person. If you think that you could have Low T, take a minute and contact a physician within our BodyLogicMD network. We’ll help you get started with an experienced doctor who can answer all of your questions about low testosterone levels.
