Testosterone is the Lead in Your Pencil!

All men will experience a decline in blood levels of testosterone as they age. In certain men the level can become so low that they experience symptoms ranging from a vague fatigue to complete erectile dysfunction and disability. For years this slow decline was considered natural and impossible to stop. With continuing research and practice, we are now able to diagnose these men and reverse this sagging decline and preserve many aspects of their manhood. Most men up until the age of 45 or 50 have adequate testosterone levels but can merit testing if symptoms are prominent.

Certain chronic conditions can cause a drop in these levels sooner than expected. After age 50, many men begin to lose their masculine edge due to waning levels of this important hormone. Several vague symptoms which hint at a testosterone decline include: decreased energy, motivation, initiative, aggressiveness, and/or self-confidence; feeling sad, blue or being depressed; worsening concentration and memory function; sleep disturbances or increased sleepiness; mild anemia or low blood; increased body fat or weight gain for no apparent reason; diminished physical or work performance.

There are other symptoms or problems that point more clearly to a decrease in testosterone. They include: reduced sexual desire and activity; decreased spontaneous erections; breast discomfort or enlargement; loss of body hair or the reduced need to shave; small or slowly shrinking testicles; height loss and/or low decreasing bone strength; reduced muscle size and strength; hot flushes (flashes) or night sweats. If you have more than a few of the above symptoms, you should see your doctor and ask if you need to have a morning testosterone blood level checked. Only with a blood test can your level of testosterone be measured. Attempts have been made to measure saliva levels but this has been found unreliable.

Several medical conditions can increase the risk of low testosterone levels, the most common include: diabetes; OPD or Emphysema; osteoporosis (brittle bones); obesity; low thyroid; long-term use of steroids or narcotics; getting older in general; liver disease; kidney disease or certain brain tumors and conditions. In fact, the fatigue and decreased drive and desire caused by low testosterone levels is quite often falsely attributed to one of these chronic conditions instead of the true problem; a low testosterone level. Since most experts recommend against routine screening of the general population and most insurance companies will not pay for random screening, you will have to tell your doctor about your specific symptoms to justify the testing. Usually the initial testing consists of checking a Free and Total Testosterone level. Should these be found abnormal, your doctor may perform additional testing, or may repeat the tests to rule out lab error. Should your levels be found low, you might need Testosterone Replacement Therapy.

Replacing testosterone can be done in several ways. There is limited research showing that eating a diet rich in lean meat, certain vegetables and nuts can has some affect on testosterone levels, but these effects are probably minimal. There are a multitude of "supplements" available through mail-order and over the internet professing to affect testosterone levels; one should beware when buying and using such products, and their use should first be approved, and then supervised by your doctor. The most common and acceptable means of replacement are with an injection you will receive at your doctor's office every few weeks, or a gel or patch that you apply to your skin every day. Although these methods are effective, some men prefer one over the other for different reasons of convenience or comfort. You will need routine repeat testing every few months to ensure your levels remain within the normal limits.

Raising your testosterone level back to normal can have many positive benefits. These include: increased muscle mass; decreased body fat; increased bone strength; improvement in erectile dysfunction (ED), even when ED drugs have failed; improvement in sexual desire and performance; improvement of depression and fatigue symptoms; improved memory and thinking ability; improvement in Anemia or blood count and improved overall sense of well-being. Men will benefit from varying levels of each one of these depending on their specific case.

Men suffering from certain conditions should not take Testosterone Replacement therapy. In these cases the testosterone can make the condition worse. These conditions include: Cancer of the prostate or breast (yes, men get that too); an undiagnosed prostate problem, or elevation of PSA (prostate specific antigen); severe congestive heart failure or a very high blood count (hematocrit). Your doctor will help you decide if testosterone replacement is right for you.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy has the potential to reverse or correct many of the problems suffered by the aging male. Replacement is relatively safe and affordable and offers the prospect of enhanced quality of life for many men. You should discuss the specifics of your case with your doctor and the two of you should decide on your treatment as a team. Getting your testosterone level checked is as easy as a simple blood test. By correcting your low testosterone level, you can really put the lead back in your pencil, so to speak. Not every doctor is well versed in the diagnosis and treatment of low testosterone levels; if your doctor seems hesitant to test for or treat this condition, you might consider a second opinion. Please, feel free to link to this article, or pass it along to an older gentleman you love, or even like...

This article distills and interprets the findings of The Endocrine Societies clinical guidelines on Testosterone Therapy in Adult Men with Androgen Deficiency Syndromes: A Clinical Practice Guideline. ©2006