by: Michelle LeSueur
It is amazing how many people are suffering from low testosterone. What is concerning is how young they are both male and female. Many are in their 20′s and early 30′s. So I decided that I would write on this in hopes to enlighten people and give them a direction.
When you talk about testosterone we tend to think that it is a male hormone. Testosterone is considered a male hormone but both men and women have it. For men it is primarily produced in the testes, women only make one tenth of what men do and it is made in smaller amounts in the ovaries. Both male and female produce smaller amounts in the adrenal glands. Testosterone is the main component when it comes to a sex drive for both men and women.
Many people believe that low testosterone only affects older men but, According to the FDA, more than 4 million men suffer from low testosterone levels. Yet, 95 out of 100 men fail to seek treatment. Many believe that low hormone levels are just a part of getting older. What men and women don’t realize is if you replace your hormones with Bio-identical natural hormones you don’t have to age!!
Research shows that by the time we get to 70 and 80 there is an increased risk of obesity, brittle bones, muscle loss, impotence and you are at higher risk for a heart attack, because of low testosterone. When women finish menopause, they usually have low testosterone levels and it can be even worse for those using synthetic estrogen replacement. Many find they have no energy, muscle tone or libido. Testosterone increases the metabolic functions, which contribute to faster healing and lower total body fat.
If you are training and working to build muscle and shed fat, you need healthy testosterone levels. One of the first things many notice when their levels start to drop is midsection weight. Once levels have been restored many find that they are able to lose that unwanted belly fat.
When we are born we have so many fat cells. At puberty and for women, pregnancy are two times in your life that you can actually increase the amount of fat cells you have. Once you have increased fat cells you can never get rid of them. You are able to shrink them, but never get rid of them. These fat cells can expand mach larger than what they were originally if we over eat and need to store more and more fat. But again, you can shrink them. Hormones affect fat cells in two different ways, depending on the message they get. A lipolytic or beta hormone tells the body to in crease fat burning energy and lipogenic or alpha hormones tell the body to store fat. In different parts of our bodies we have alpha or beta-receptors and that is why it is easier to lose weight in some areas over others. The name of the game is for our fat cells to have more beta-receptors than alpha. By increasing testosterone, we increase beta-receptors. I have seen men with high cholesterol levels drop into normal range after they started replacing their testosterone.
Testosterone is necessary for sperm to mature and contributes to the overall quality of the sperm. In the last 15 years male infertility is on the rise. But here is the problem; it takes 3 months for sperm to develop verses one cycle with women, so male infertility is more of a problem than when a woman has fertility issues. There is a lot of research that supports that we are seeing a rise in this because of all the estrogen’s in our environment. You can find out more about environmental factors in the book, “ Willing to Change! Can You Beat Genetics ”.
So what are the symptoms of low testosterone?
Here is a little test to take, if you think you may have low levels. The Saint Louis University Androgen Deficiency in Aging Men (ADAM) Questionnaire. Dr. John Morley, a researcher with the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, developed the self-screening tool to help identify symptoms of low testosterone in men. Choose the responses below that best describe how you have been feeling.
1. Do you have a decrease in libido (sex drive)?
2. Do you have a lack of energy?
3. Do you have a decrease in strength and/or endurance?
4. Have you lost height?
5. Have you noticed a decreased “enjoyment of life”?
6. Are you sad and/or grumpy?
7. (MEN) No longer wake up with a morning erection?
8. (MEN) Are your erections less strong?
9. Have you noticed a deterioration in your ability to play sports?
10. Are you falling asleep after dinner?
11. Has there been a recent deterioration in your work performance?
12 Do you have a hard time sleeping through the night?
13. (WOMEN) Do you have a hard time getting aroused?
If you answer yes to question one or seven, or at least three of the other questions you may have low testosterone levels.
What is the side affects from low testosterone?
Increased body fat, Gyneomastia, Weak erections, Loss of muscle mass, Lack of libido, Lack of motivation, depression, memory loss, irritability, low self esteem, heart disease, diabetes, Hypertension, Osteoporosis, and even premature death. We need our hormones!!
We don’t have to be miserable as we age like many want us to believe. Contact us today to find out where your levels are and get them balanced.