What is a testosterone deficiency?
With a testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism), the levels of the hormone testosterone in the blood are reduced, which can lead to various complaints such as sexual discomfort or mood swings. There are many different causes for a testosterone deficiency. With a so-called testosterone replacement therapy you can balance the testosterone level again. An estimated 20 percent of all German men suffer from a testosterone deficiency.
Testosterone deficiency – just a male problem?
Although testosterone is the most important male sex hormone and also shapes the appearance of a man, it can also lead to a testosterone deficiency in women, which is manifested by various symptoms. In women, the hormone is mainly produced in the ovaries and affects, among other things, the hormone balance and muscle growth.
In men, 95 percent of the hormone is produced in the testicles and five percent in the adrenal cortex. A complex interplay of the hypothalamus (midbrain), pituitary gland (pituitary gland) and the testes is responsible for the level of testosterone, which can be influenced by numerous factors. These include:
- Sensory stimuli, e.g. B. Light and smell
- Environmental factors
- Personal lifestyle
- Diseases
- stress
- Strong emotions
What do we need testosterone for?
In a man, testosterone shapes the appearance across all phases of life: in the unborn child, the hormone influences the development of the male sex, in puberty it provides the expression of typical male characteristics and also receives this in adults. In addition, the sex hormone plays a major role in controlling libido: it increases the attraction between men and women and ensures erections. The following areas are affected by testosterone in both sexes:
- Bone growth
- Libido / sex drive
- fertility
- Blood formation
- Body growth
- General mood
- Self-confidence
- Beard growth / general body hair
- Muscle growth
- Protein synthesis
A pronounced self-confidence through a lot of testosterone can also be noticed in the career: A study shows that successful people often have above-average testosterone levels.
Causes of testosterone deficiency
Basically, testosterone levels decrease with age – as a rule, production is reduced from around 40 years of age. For women, this often coincides with the start of menopause, in men one speaks of the so-called andropause. Aside from this natural process, there are many other possible causes of testosterone deficiency. These include:
- Lack of exercise: People who sit a lot professionally and do not move actively several times a week even after work have an increased risk of a testosterone deficiency.
- Overweight: Over 41 percent of all German men are overweight. Above all, many of them suffer from excessive belly fat, which can make testosterone deficient.
- Convenience: Our modern life ensures that we no longer have to fight for every meal and therefore have to keep physically fit. This also reduces testosterone production.
- stress: Persistent stress can generally have a negative impact on the hormone balance and also affect the production of testosterone.
- lack of sleep: Sleep disorders can also affect testosterone levels. The need for sleep is individually different, but most people need between seven and eight hours of sleep. The quality of sleep is also crucial: we should go through all of the so-called sleep cycles four to six times a night to start the day relaxed.
- Poor diet: Those who consume a lot of industrially processed foods with a high proportion of sugar, salt and fat do not optimally supply the body with the necessary nutrients such as proteins and fiber. We need these to produce various hormones such as testosterone.
- Luxury food consumption: Consuming alcohol, cigarettes or drugs can harm the body in many ways, including reducing testosterone production.
- Lack of sunlight: Most of us spend most of our time in the house. On the one hand, many people suffer from a vitamin D deficiency because we need sunlight to produce this vitamin. The lack of sunlight also inhibits the production of testosterone.
- Diseases: Various diseases can also affect testosterone levels and cause hormone deficiency. This includes, for example, diabetes.
Due to the many possible causes, the search for the respective trigger can be difficult – it should absolutely be done by the doctor.
What are the symptoms of a testosterone deficiency?
Symptoms of a lack of testosterone can be just as varied as the causes. The following symptoms can occur:
- Small testicles
- Disability in men
- Low body hair
- Delayed puberty
- Enlarged mammary gland in men
- Reduction of muscles and lean body mass
- Low blood production
- Increased sweating
- high blood pressure
- Weight gain
- Erectile dysfunction
- Decreased desire
- Mood swings, generally bad mood or even depression
- Decrease in bone density
- Hot flashes
- Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
- Nocturnal erections decrease
- exhaustion
- aggressiveness
- Restless sleep, often associated with nightmares
- Memory disorders, e.g. B. Forgetfulness
Since some of the symptoms are quite non-specific, a testosterone deficiency is not always considered directly as a possible cause of the symptoms, but rather is attributed to general stress. In addition, the symptoms are very individual, many also develop slowly. A detailed consultation with the doctor and an appropriate blood test can be used to make the diagnosis.
Therapy: what helps against a testosterone deficiency?
If a testosterone deficiency is confirmed as the cause of the symptoms, the treatment is carried out via a medication that is intended to raise the testosterone level back to normal levels. The corresponding preparations are prescription-only and should only be taken in close consultation with the doctor who keeps an eye on the development of testosterone levels.
Depending on the complaint, it may take a while for the symptoms to decrease noticeably: Sexual displeasure can improve within a few weeks, If, for example, muscle mass has been lost, it can take several months before it regains its original value.
Natural support for testosterone production
Apart from drug therapy, everyone affected can do something themselves to improve their hormonal balance, including testosterone levels. The following other methods help treat a deficiency in the sex hormone:
- Move: We should exercise two to three times a week for at least 30 minutes each. This not only improves our general state of health, but also the hormone balance. Since we lose muscle mass due to a lack of testosterone, strength training is particularly useful.
- Healthy eating: It is best to rely on a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, fish, fiber (e.g. from whole grains), dairy products and lean meat. Fast food and sweets are only exceptionally on the menu.
- Get enough sleep: Good sleep not only keeps you healthy, it also ensures that we live long – because the body can only regenerate itself during sleep. Good sleep is also essential for a balanced hormone balance and the production of testosterone. If you suffer from sleep disorders, our articles sleep tips and healthy sleep can help you.
Reading tips: Here we explain what helps with testosterone deficiency in women. We also explain what you can do about a lack of concentration and how breathing meditation keeps you healthy.
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