You’ve probably heard the commercials for testosterone supplements promising to restore the vigor and strength of your youth (not to mention weight loss).
The problem: Most men don’t need a testosterone boost. In fact, supplementing it can be dangerous to your health.
“Testosterone levels typically peak in late adolescence and early adulthood. After middle age, a man’s testosterone level usually drops about 1 percent each year,” said Angel Garcia Otano, MD, a family medicine physician with Endeavor Health Medical Group.
There are several things besides aging that can cause low testosterone, or hypogonadism, including genetics, undescended testicles, mumps, injuries and cancer treatment.
Lower testosterone levels may cause symptoms including:
- Changes in sexual function. This may include reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction and infertility.
- Changes in sleep patterns. Sometimes low testosterone causes insomnia or other sleep disturbances.
- Physical changes. Various physical changes are possible, including increased body fat, reduced muscle bulk and strength, and decreased bone density, hot flashes, enlarged breast tissue, shrinking testicles and body hair loss. You may have less energy than you used to.
- Emotional changes. Low testosterone may contribute to a decrease in motivation or self-confidence. You may feel depressed or have trouble concentrating or remembering things.
But these symptoms could be caused by medication or diseases, such as diabetes, depression or thyroid problems. The only way to know if your testosterone is low is through a blood test.
Testosterone therapy carries some risk, and experts aren’t sure it will help symptoms caused by age-related testosterone loss.
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