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5 Signs You May Be Suffering from a Testosterone Deficiency

Oct 06, 2022
 5 Signs You May Be Suffering from a Testosterone Deficiency
Are you feeling more tired than usual? Do you no longer have any interest in sex? You may be suffering from testosterone deficiency. Click here to learn more about the signs of this common health condition.

Testosterone is a male sex hormone that plays a role in the development of many male characteristics like facial hair, deeper voice, and muscle strength. It’s also the hormone responsible for the male sex drive. 

Many of the symptoms you associate with getting older are caused by declining sex hormone levels, like weight gain, muscle loss, and fatigue. Are you suffering from a testosterone deficiency?

At Legacy Health and Wellness Clinic in Duncanville and Dallas, Texas, our board-certified preventive medicine and public health physician Ifeoma Ogbonna, MD specializes in hormone therapy. 

Here, we want to share with you some of the signs of testosterone deficiency. Though it’s normal for testosterone production to decline as you get older, there’s no need to suffer through the symptoms that occur when levels get too low.

1. Disinterest in sex

Testosterone plays a major role in sexual health and function. While many factors affect your libido, when you no longer “feel in the mood,” it’s time to get your testosterone levels checked. 

Low testosterone may also cause erectile dysfunction (ED), a common male sex problem that affects your ability to get or maintain an erection long enough for sexual intercourse. 

2. Changes in mood

Testosterone is best known for its effects on sexual health, but this hormone affects more than just your sex drive. It also influences your mood and sense of well-being. If you’re feeling depressed or irritable, you may have testosterone deficiency syndrome (TD) or low testosterone (Low-T).

According to the American Urological Association (AUA), if your blood levels of testosterone are less than 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL), then you have TD. 

3. Low energy

It’s not unusual to feel tired, especially when you have a packed schedule. However, if your energy levels are low and you feel exhausted all the time despite getting enough sleep, it may be related to hormonal changes. 

Low testosterone also affects your normal sleep pattern, causing or worsening insomnia. Additionally, TD causes hot flashes and night sweats, which can make it hard to get a good night of rest.

4. Changes in body composition

You need testosterone to build muscle. A decrease in hormone levels leads to muscle loss and fat gain. 

But your muscles aren’t the only things that lose mass when testosterone declines. Testosterone also plays a role in maintaining bone health and strength. Low testosterone levels increase the rate of bone loss, putting you at risk of osteoporosis, a bone condition that makes your bones weak and brittle.

5. Thinning hair

Loss of testosterone affects hair, but not the hair on your head. Male-pattern baldness is a common condition usually caused by genetics. However, declining testosterone levels affect hair growth in other parts of the body like the face, chest, and armpits.

Hormones affect your physical and emotional health. Though testosterone levels naturally decline with age, when they get too low it’s time to take action. If you have any of these TD symptoms, we can help. 

We offer telehealth appointments so there’s no need to come to the office. Your health and privacy are important to us. Call or request an appointment online today.