1. What Helps to Make a Man a Man
We have all heard the jokes about women and their hormones, but the truth is men and women share the same hormones, simply at different levels. As estrogen is the main female hormone, testosterone is the male equivalent. Males produce up to 60 times more testosterone than women. Regarded as the male sex hormone, testosterone is created in the testicles and is responsible, besides enhancing a man's sex drive, for developing and maintaining muscle and bone mass, maintaining proper levels of red blood cells, increasing energy and fertility. It also helps develop some male characteristics including hair patterns and thickened vocal chords.
2. When the Testosterone-making Factory Shuts Down
As men age, levels of testosterone fall (hypogonadism). This process begins at about age 30 and continues naturally for the rest of a man's life. When levels are low enough (detected through blood tests), testosterone replacement therapy is considered. Replacement testosterone can be administered via injection, oral tablets or transdermal (skin) patches. Long-term reports have shown that many men who participate in testosterone replacement therapy have increased libido and energy and a positive change in mood.
3. Not Tonight, Honey, I Have a Headache
Low testosterone can have several physical and mental symptoms. Many can be related to the same type of symptoms women get during menopause; thus, low testosterone in aging men has often been referred to as "male menopause." A decreased sexual drive is one of the main signs (in some cases, erectile dysfunction may be linked to low testosterone). The possibility of mild anemia exists due to a lower count of red blood cells. Body fat will increase as muscle mass, bone mass (osteoporosis) and body hair decrease. There can be a change in levels of cholesterol and lipids. Depression, moodiness and difficulty concentrating may result.
4. Not All Highs on This Low Testosterone Treatment
Testosterone replacement therapy is not without some mild and potentially harmful side effects. On the mild side, oily skin or acne, some fluid retention and breast enlargement may result. If you suffer from sleep apnea, this condition may be worsened if you get testosterone replacement. An increase of red blood cells may potentially lead to stroke or heart attack. Particularly in younger men, a decreased sperm count (infertility) may be a side effect, though this condition is reversed upon cessation of the therapy.
5. When Testosterone Replacement Therapy Is Simply Not the Answer
Sadly, replacement therapy is not so easy that every male with low testosterone could simply pop a pill or an injection and be sexually driven, energetic, happy bull studs. Men with prostate cancer, for instance, are discouraged to take replacement testosterone, as stimulation of prostate tissue may result (though a study reported in Science Daily in November 2006 suggests the therapy does not have as much of an effect on the prostate gland as originally thought). It's also not meant to reverse the effects of aging; thus, men with healthy testosterone levels should not receive testosterone replacement therapy.
