Did you know that approximately 40% of men over forty have experienced low testosterone? The percentage increases as men get older, which can impact health and quality of life. Testosterone production can be affected by a wide variety of factors, from normal decreases with age to diet, exercise and health conditions. If you have symptoms of low testosterone or “low T,” hormone therapy is one option for relieving your symptoms and achieving better health. But are there other ways to raise testosterone without hormone therapy? Let’s discuss what causes low testosterone production and what you can do to combat low T.

Testosterone is made in the adrenal glands in both men and women, and in the sexual organs (testes and ovaries). It is considered the most important male sex hormone, impacting the growth of male sex organs, sperm count, libido and sexual performance. Levels of testosterone increase to their peak levels in the male teen years and into the twenties. This brings on puberty and the associated changes to the male body. Most men begin lowering their testosterone slowly in their thirties, but for some, levels drop quickly and unexpectedly, resulting in symptoms of low T.

Common Symptoms of Andropause or Low T

Low testosterone and andropause are often connected conditions. Andropause is when men start producing less testosterone, but it is usually slowly over time. When testosterone levels drop too low, it can result in unappealing symptoms. Men with low T or andropause symptoms may experience:

• Depression, anxiety or mood swings
• Fatigue or general lack of motivation/energy
• Lowered sex drive
• Erectile dysfunction (ED)
• Hair loss
• Decreased muscle mass or strength
• Increased fat or weight gain
• Breast enlargement

When men experience several of these symptoms, it can be a sign of low testosterone. However, conditions such as erectile dysfunction, hair loss or depression can be caused by other health or genetic issues. Most men with low T will have multiple symptoms along with verifiable low testosterone through lab testing.

Lifestyle Changes for Improve T Production

Testosterone can have a large impact on wellness. When levels are low, it can affect red blood cell production, metabolism, sexual performance and much more. Like most body functions, testosterone production requires good health. For some men, their lifestyle and health may contribute to low T levels. To maximize the testosterone their body makes, some men can make some changes to their lifestyle and health for improved T levels.

Lose Weight

Men who are overweight or obese are at higher risk for low T. Fat cells convert testosterone into estrogen, which can result in low levels of testosterone and higher levels of estrogen. Unfortunately, low T also makes it more difficult to lose weight. Sticking to a lower-calorie, high-nutrient diet with regular exercise to lose weight can help improve the chance of increasing testosterone levels. Eating a healthy diet not only can help you lose weight, but it can also give you the nutrients you need to produce higher levels of testosterone.

Get Your Sleep

Most of your daily testosterone is produced when you sleep. If you are burning the candle at both ends and not getting 6-8 hours of sleep a night, you may be hurting your testosterone production. Rest is vital for staying healthy – if you are not getting enough sleep, you are at higher risk for high blood pressure, fatigue and low T.

Manage Stress

Stress is a big contributor to low testosterone levels. If you have a high-stress job or personal concerns that are causing you stress, it may be impacting your T levels. Finding ways to manage stress can help you feel more relaxed, and it may improve your testosterone production. Exercise, meditation, hobbies, therapy and other relaxation techniques are options for lowering stress.

Exercise

Getting in your 10,000 steps a day and building muscle can be one of the best ways to maximize your testosterone production. Strength training is the best way to boost testosterone through exercise, but any form is better than a sedentary lifestyle. Exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight and can manage your stress levels. Plus, building muscle can stimulate your hormone production, including testosterone.

Treatment of Health Conditions

Certain health conditions can affect your testosterone production. Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and high blood pressure (hypertension) are common conditions that can affect your testosterone levels. Working with your doctor to manage your health conditions with medication, diet, exercise and other treatments may have a positive impact on your testosterone levels. Also, be aware that certain medications can affect your testosterone production. You may need hormone therapy to offset the impacts of medication side effects on your testosterone.

For some men, making these changes to their health and lifestyle can be all that is needed to improve their testosterone. However, there are men who live a healthy lifestyle and yet still have problems with low T. Hormone therapy can fast-track raising testosterone and is often the best option for men with low T.

Benefits of Testosterone Therapy

While women routinely seek hormone therapy to increase estrogen when they reach menopause, it is not as common for men to seek hormone therapy for low testosterone or andropause. Both conditions have extreme symptoms that can affect energy, mood, sexual relations and overall health. Hormone therapy is the fastest and most effective option for restoring normal levels of female and male hormones.

At Arcadia Wellness Center, we want to help our patients achieve their best health and quality of life. When our male patients come to us for concerns with low testosterone, we perform a comprehensive analysis to determine if the symptoms they are experiencing are due to hormone imbalance. We look at the symptoms and health factors – if there are signs of low T, we will order lab testing to check hormone levels. Once the lab results are obtained, we will consult with the patient to discuss the appropriate treatment options, which could include testosterone therapy.

Our testosterone injections are tailored to the patient and their specific needs. Unlike many clinics that offer hormone therapy for low T, we do not require our patients to visit our facility weekly or monthly for their injections. Most of our testosterone therapy patients only come in every few months to maintain their treatments.

Should You Seek Hormone Therapy for Low T?

Hormone therapy is a very personal decision. Some patients with low T want to try natural methods or lifestyle changes to improve their testosterone levels. Losing weight, exercising and living a healthy lifestyle can have positive effects on low T, but it can be a slow process. Hormone therapy has the benefits of quicker results, and it can help make it easier to accomplish other changes such as losing body fat. With more energy, a healthier metabolism and easier muscle growth, it can be simpler to make the healthy changes you need to maintain higher testosterone levels.

If you are struggling with symptoms of low testosterone, come see us at Arcadia Wellness Center. We offer advanced options in hormone therapy, including testosterone injections. We are located in Phoenix, AZ and we are always welcoming new patients. Call our clinic today or contact us online to schedule an informative hormone therapy consultation and learn more about your options to combat low T.