Testosterone certainly plays a significant role in the life of a man. Most would describe it as being the hormones that make men… men. Testosterone is responsible for functions including facial hair, deep voice, sex drive, erections, and sperm production. Once a man begins to lose testosterone, different aspects of his bodily function can begin to fail including physical, emotional, and sexual health.
What is Low Testosterone
To understand what low levels of testosterone are you should first know what is considered…. Normal. Testosterone levels are tested through a simple blood test. A healthy adult man before the age of 30 is likely to have levels of about 270 to 1,070 nanograms per deciliter with 300 being on the lower side of the threshold.
Causes of Low Testosterone Levels
Now that you have a better understanding of what is considered a low level of testosterone, here are the most common causes for the decrease:
Age
Typically testosterone levels will naturally decrease in men once they reach the age of 30-40 years old. It continues to decrease at a rate of one percent on the yearly basis. Therefore, by the time an adult male reaches 70 years of age he has lost about 30% of his testosterone. However, because this is a natural cause, typically older men are still considered within a normal level for testosterone.
Obesity
Whether you knew this or not some of a man’s testosterone will naturally change into estrogen (a hormone that is typically associated with women). It is important to note that men do need estrogen as well because it helps to maintain their bone density. However, once a man becomes obese this means that the testosterone to estrogen conversion will take place in the fat cells. The more fat cells a man has the more their testosterone will be converted to estrogen.
Injuries to the Testicles or Scrotum
When testicles are injured, it can sometimes be complicated for the testes to produce the level of testosterone that is needed. This only happens if both testicles have been injured. One functional testicle can still produce a healthy level of testosterone.
What Can be Done to Prevent Significant Decrease
As with most bodily dysfunctions, the number one way to improve your overall health is to eat right and exercise. Other ways of preventing complications with testosterone level decrease is to protect your testicles when playing sports, combined with exercise, men should also take up strength training, and eat a diet that is complete with fiber, fruits, and vegetables. Also, consuming less drugs and alcohol can do wonders.
For those who are currently suffering with low testosterone levels there are options for treating it that include hormone replacement therapy. If you feel that this is a treatment that you need you should talk with your doctor. They will explain the pros and cons of replacement therapy so that you can make an informed decision on whether or not this is the route for you to take. From there, your doctor can help you in planning a course of action to obtain normal levels again.