Most men don't make a conscious decision to lower their testosterone levels. But despite this, testosterone decline is a natural part of life and growing older. This can be exacerbated by lifestyle choices that create factors lowering testosterone levels in men.
Definition
Testosterone is a male hormone that influences several physical and character traits often associated with men. Aggression and sexual desire are some of the more prominent character traits, but it also plays a role in the development of facial and body hair as well as a muscular physique. Muscle cells encourage testosterone production, while fat cells produces estrogen, a female hormone.
Factors
Several lifestyle and physical factors can influence your testosterone levels. Age is a primary factor. Testosterone decline is natural as men age. But married men also experience lowered testosterone levels in contrast to unmarried men, according to Harvard University. Additionally, not getting enough sleep and suffering from chronic fatigue can slow testosterone production in men.
Effects
Declining testosterone can have profound effects on a man. For one, sexual desires and performance might decline, and erectile dysfunction will become more likely. It can be more difficult for a man to develop or maintain a lean physique, and fat development will come easier. Aggression might be less identifiable in men whose testosterone levels have dipped.
Lifestyle Changes
These testosterone-lowering factors can often be addressed through simple lifestyle changes. Exercise can help stimulate testosterone production, increasing testosterone-producing muscle mass and staving off fat cells. Getting more sleep will reduce fatigue and can immediately affect the presence of testosterone in the body.
Considerations
While hormone therapies may be an option for combating excessively low testosterone levels, many doctors do not recommend them for battling natural decline. Tampering with hormone levels in unnatural ways can be disruptive to your body and your balance of hormones. Ultimately, testosterone levels are sure to decline, but your lifestyle will greatly influence the rate and degree of this loss.
