Keeping your body’s testosterone levels normal is important for good sexual and reproductive health. From birth to adulthood, it helps men grow, form, and develop different male features and characteristics, such as muscle mass, bone density, body hair, and deep voice. It is also valuable in the production of sperm.
Because testosterone levels naturally decline with age, men who are in their 40s and older tend to have low testosterone levels than those who are in their 20s and 30s.
What does testosterone do for the body?
As the primary male sex hormone, testosterone plays many different important roles in the body, including:
- growth and development of the penis and the testicles
- growth of facial hair, pubic hair, and body hair from puberty
- deepening of the voice once one enters the puberty stage
- development of bone mass and strength
- development of muscle mass and size
- increase in sexual desire or libido
- production of sperm
What happens if you have low testosterone levels?
There are a variety of symptoms that may arise if your body’s testosterone levels are low. Below are the common warning signs that you should watch out for:
Reduced libido
One of the main functions of testosterone is the development of your libido or sex drive. It allows you to have plenty of satisfying and pleasurable sex for many years. However, if your testosterone levels decrease, you will notice your desire for sex decline too. Because of that, you may get into conflicts with your sex partners, and live an inactive and dull sex life.
Erectile issues
Another essential function of testosterone is in penile performance. With high testosterone levels in the body, you can easily get an erection after some sexual stimulation, and maintain an erection for a long-lasting, enjoyable sex. Your testosterone taps your brain receptors to produce more nitric oxide to get your penis erect hard and long enough for sex.
Body hair loss
Not having enough testosterone in the body slows down the appearance of body hair. So, if your testosterone levels are low, you are likely to lose facial hair, pubic hair, and even the hair on your head, and can lead to some self-esteem and self-confidence issues due to a change in your appearance.
Increased body fat
For proper distribution of fat in the body, your testosterone levels should be normal. Otherwise, you are likely to experience an increase in your body fat, and be in danger of gaining weight, and other diseases that are a result of high body fat, such as high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
Low quality semen
Semen is the white, milky liquid that shoots out of your penis during ejaculation. It serves as your sperm’s mode of transport and is especially important if you and your partner are trying to get pregnant. If you have low testosterone, your body will be unable to produce a good amount of semen that can aid in sperm motility for reproduction, so pregnancy will be difficult.
Low energy levels
Many studies have found that men who have low testosterone levels tend to experience a decrease in their energy levels. Because of that, they feel exhausted all the time, and are not motivated to exercise or even do the simplest physical tasks that they used to do.
Decreased bone and muscle strength and mass
Because your body needs testosterone to grow and develop bones and muscles that are strong and healthy, having low testosterone levels will cause various problems. You will suffer from weak and fragile bones and muscles that will make engaging in physical activities hard. You will also be at greater risk of sprains, fractures, soreness, and injuries.
Mood changes
Your risk of stress, anxiety, and depression increases if your testosterone levels are low. This is because testosterone is key to managing your mental and emotional capacities. Once your testosterone levels dip, you will get irritated or upset easily, lose focus or concentration, have a tough time remembering and processing information, or just be not in the mood to do your usual routines.
How do you know how much testosterone you have in your body?
To get an accurate measurement of the amount of testosterone there is in your body, you should get a testosterone level test.
Before the test, you should let your doctor know of any medications that you are taking, whether prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs, as these can affect your test results. You may be advised to stop taking them for a certain time period before you undergo testing.
Usually, a testosterone level test is scheduled in the morning, from 7 am to 10 am, as these hours are when the body’s hormone levels are the highest. It only takes a few minutes, as it requires just your blood sample for laboratory analysis.
According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, the normal testosterone levels in men are about 300 nanograms per deciliter to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter. If your testosterone levels fall below this range, you have low testosterone and are at risk of the health problems discussed above that can affect you physically, mentally, and sexually.
What should you do to increase your testosterone?
To boost your testosterone levels, you should eat some fresh and natural testosterone-boosting foods, such as:
Eggs
These are a good source of vitamin D, protein, and many other essential nutrients that can increase your testosterone levels and improve your sexual health.
Oysters
These are loaded with zinc, which is an important nutrient in the maintenance of testosterone in the body.
Beans
These offer protein, vitamin D, and zinc, which are nutrients that can aid in enhancing your testosterone production, muscle and bone development, and disease prevention.
You can also talk to your doctor about testosterone boosters, which are prescription medications that come in the form of injections, pills, tablets, skin patches, and gels, and can help increase your testosterone levels.
