The Link Between Testosterone Levels and Aging in Men

Testosterone is a very vital hormone in the body when it comes to sexual health, especially as it affects men. It offers diverse benefits to the body and is even marketed by some as a “fountain of youth.” But what connection does this hormone have with the aging process and what are the signs and symptoms you are likely to observe as a man when having low level.

What is Testosterone?

Testosterone is a steroid hormone belonging to the androgen group. It is produced in humans and other vertebrates. In males, it is secreted mainly by the testicles, while smaller amounts are also produced by the adrenal glands. The hormone plays a very essential role in male reproductive tissue development and in the enhancement of secondary sexual characteristics, including muscle mass and body hair growth.

While testosterone is mostly considered a sex hormone, it is more than that. It is needed for overall good health and wellbeing. It helps to keep body fat under control and improve strength and energy levels. The hormone helps to regulate red blood cell production and facilitate sperm production.

Testosterone and Aging

Right from the time in the womb, testosterone is needed for proper development of an unborn. Levels are usually at their highest (as high as 1200 ng/dL) during puberty resulting in more pronounced body hair growth, penis enlargement, voice deepening, and shoulder broadening, among other effects. Testosterone levels begin to drop lower and lower in the post-pubertal years. They decline by about 1% every year from age 30. Normal levels in healthy male adults are put in the range 280 to 1100 ng/dL.

However, testosterone decrease is not necessarily as a result of aging. It could be due to a disorder known as hypogonadism, characterized by body's inability to produce sufficient quantity of the hormone. This decline could result from a dysfunction of the testicles, in which case it is described as primary hypogonadism. It may well occur be because of hypothalamic-pituitary gland dysfunction and described as secondary hypogonadism. Testosterone deficiency can be congenital or acquired.

Symptoms of Low Testosterone Production

Mayo Clinic says lower levels of testosterone are not necessarily responsible for aging signs and symptoms in men. However, some of the symptoms of low T are commonly observed in older individuals. These include:

Sleep issues – It has been observed that low testosterone levels may interfere with the quality of sleep men get. They could lead to insomnia or other forms of sleep disturbances.

Poor sexual performance – It is not uncommon to hear of older men losing interest in sexual activity. This may be caused by low amount of testosterone in the body. Erection issues and infertility have also been associated to insufficient levels.

Physical changes – Inadequate amount of testosterone can bring about several changes in the body that you may find unpleasant. Low energy levels, loss of muscle mass, decreased bone density, and increased body fat are some of the changes that could be observed.

Emotional problems – Changes that can be brought about by low testosterone levels can also be psychological in nature. The hormone is known to have impact on human behavior. Therefore, insufficiency may have effect on your level of motivation or self-confidence. It could affect cognitive functions negatively and it is possibly capable of leading to depression.

Collectively, the symptoms that may be experienced by an aging man with low testosterone level are referred to as andropause. They are also described as ADAM, or androgenic deficiency of the aging male.

How Can Replacement Therapy Help?

Testosterone replacement therapy with prescription drugs or testosterone boosters such as Vigrx Plus and Provacyl is recommended for individuals having consistently low levels of the hormone and experiencing symptoms associated with deficiency. It is primarily used for the treatment of men with hypogonadism as it helps to keep testosterone levels in the healthy range. The therapy can be useful in reversing the effects of this condition. There is increased interest in androgen replacement for addressing drops in hormone levels seen in aging. It is beneficial because of the effect it produces on body composition, exercise-induced ischemia, bone mineral density and other physiologic functions regulated by androgens.

Realizing the important roles of testosterone, some men now look toward replacement therapy with HGH/testosterone boosters such as Provacyl as a way of slowing the aging clock. This is why it is called the fountain of youth by some. However, evidence from studies on the usefulness of testosterone replacement therapy for older men that are healthy is mixed.

Testosterone may be used to treat depression in middle-aged men with low testosterone levels. It is believed to also be useful in the management of type-2 diabetes. And being an anabolic steroid, testosterone is used by athletes for performance improvement, although use for this purpose has made the substance to be banned in several sports. It improves muscle development as well as boost strength and endurance levels by boosting protein synthesis.

Testosterone Risks

It is important to note that some of the signs and symptoms that have been associated to low testosterone levels may also be caused by other conditions and factors. The other possible causative factors include diabetes, depression, thyroid issues, obstructive sleep apnea, and medication side effects. These other factors may even have a hand in the problem of low testosterone. Therefore, it is essential that you have a diagnostic blood test carried out before concluding you have low levels of the hormone.

In addition, you should be aware that testosterone treatment may come with certain risks. These include:

Skin reactions, including appearance of acne
Breast enlargement
Testicle shrinkage
Promotion of noncancerous prostate growth and existing prostate cancer cell growth
Deep-vein thrombosis (blood clotting)
Reduction in sperm production
Worsening of sleep apnea

These are some scary side effects that you need to take every step to prevent from occurring. The therapy may also cause hair thinning and loss, increased hematocrit and heart attacks. Fatality is another scary possibility.

It is recommended that you get in touch with your doctor if you are considering therapy for addressing testosterone decline witnessed with aging. He or she will first assess whether you have normal testosterone amount in your body. You will then be provided with relevant options after assessment, depending on your goal.

REFERENCES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testosterone
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1502317/
www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/sexual-health/in-depth/testosterone-therapy/art-20045728
www.healthline.com/health/low-testosterone/testosterone-levels-by-age