Your endocrine system might be thought of as the messenger service for your body. It’s made up of a network of glands that make hormones, which regulate most of your body’s functions. Your testes secrete testosterone.
Testosterone serves numerous functions, and is especially important for boys during puberty. However, even as an adult, testosterone plays a role in your sex drive, muscle strength, and bone strength. Low levels of testosterone can cause numerous health issues.
At BodyLogicMD, located in Glastonbury, Connecticut, Dr. Anita Petruzelli treats hormonal imbalances, including low testosterone. Our men’s health services are designed to help our patients understand why they are having certain symptoms as well as provide effective treatment.
These five changes may indicate that your testosterone levels are suboptimal.
One of the most frequently cited issues with low testosterone, or low T, is sexual dysfunction. Healthy sexual function is an important part of good overall health. Problems with sexual health can be disturbing, and some patients feel embarrassed.
Since testosterone directly regulates your sexual health and wellness, lower levels can have a major impact. Low T can lead to problems like erectile dysfunction, which affects your ability to maintain an erection, or low libido, which leaves you uninterested in sex.
It’s possible to have erectile dysfunction or low libido due to problems unrelated to your physical health, but if you have them persistently, the cause could be low testosterone levels. If your life is going well and you’re not under any unusual stress, but you’re still struggling with sexual dysfunction, Dr. Petruzzelli may recommend checking your testosterone levels.
Losing muscle mass with age is normal. If you also become less active, which is common, you may also find you have more fat than you did before. Normally, a little less muscle and a little more fat isn’t a reason to be worried. However, it could be a symptom of low testosterone.
One of the important roles of testosterone is maintaining muscle mass. It’s also involved in how your body processes and stores fat. If you’re active, but you still find it difficult to maintain muscle, low T could be the problem.
About two-thirds of men have some hair loss by the age of 35. If you’re younger than that, or if no one in your family has lost their hair, you might want to have your testosterone levels checked.
Life is busy, and feeling tired may seem like a normal part of your week. However, if you find that you don’t feel rested after a good night’s sleep, or you find that you just don’t have the energy you’d expect to after a rest, it could be related to low testosterone levels.
Be aware of your energy levels, and if you’ve always been energetic but suddenly aren’t, consider talking to Dr. Petruzzelli about testosterone.
Other common symptoms of low T include mood swings, depression, and irritability, but these symptoms may be challenging to pinpoint. If you notice that you’re grumpier than usual, or you feel sad more often than normal, it could be related to your testosterone production.
These five symptoms can be challenging to directly attribute to low T. Many conditions have fatigue as a symptom, and besides, who isn’t tired these days? But, if you have one or more of these symptoms, you should consider discussing your situation with Dr. Petruzzelli.
At BodyLogicMD, our goal is to help you live a full and healthy life. If you have low T, you may need to make lifestyle changes or consider testosterone replacement therapy. You’re likely to be surprised at the improvements once your testosterone levels are back where they need to be.
If you’d like to learn more, schedule an appointment today. You can request an appointment online or call us at 860-375-4935.
