24 Jun HealologyEd ~ TESTOSTERONE
Testosterone
Testosterone at HealologyHealth
Testosterone: Differences for men and women
How does testosterone (T) differ between men and women? Men develop testosterone in the testes and women in the ovaries, adrenal glands on the kidneys, and in peripheral tissue. Women have much smaller amounts of testosterone than men. Ladies, remember when you were a teen and you always broke out in pimples? I know you do… don’t worry, I will not tell… testosterone may have been the culprit. As we age, we lose about 1% of T a year when we hit our 30’s.
What about male menopause or andropause?
Yes, men really do go through a form of menopause. This happens generally around the age of 50 and older. What are the symptoms?
- #1 is erectile dysfunction
- Become depressed and sad
- Decreased energy
- Can’t concentrate
- Self-confidence lowers
- Development of gynecomastia or male breasts
- Body fat increase
- Bones become brittle due to decrease in density
- Infertility
- Can’t sleep
- Hair loss
- Mood changes
What are the benefits of Testosterone?
- Memory and thinking
- Males deep voice
- Sperm production
- Increase in muscle mass (especially with weight training and exercise)
- Increase in bone mass (bone mineral density)
- Beautiful beards in males (along with pubic hair in both)
- Increased sex drive for both males and females
- Control of body fat
- Regulation of fight or flight
Have you been talking, and the words just escape you into thin air? Yes, decreased testosterone again. Testosterone has been known to increase memory, sexual arousal in men and women, improve your mood, increase math ability, and the list is a long one.
What if we have too much or adverse effects?
Adverse effects of testosterone can result in a deep voice, pimples, inappropriate hair growth, irregular periods, abnormal lab values, larger clitoris, and mood changes. A safe, yet effective dose is a must! It is important to know if you are a fast or slow metabolizer especially when considering testosterone, especially pellets, as it could take many months sometimes up to a year to for it to get out of your system.
What happens when we don’t have enough?
What happens if not enough T? We become moody and depressed, tired all the time, our muscles become weak, bones start to lose mass, and we just don’t want to be involved with sexual activity. Some think this may be related to peri-menopause or menopause, but what is important is to see the right provider along with proper testing to get to the root of the problem.
For men, it is sometimes pretty obvious, erectile dysfunction, low muscle mass, increased body fat, and a little more forgetful. You have heard of the proverbial couch potato? Men just don’t want to do the things they used to.
For women, not enough T can affect your body in a negative way. Testosterone helps women with an increased sexual drive (as well as satisfaction), increase follicle stimulating hormone, which assist us in pregnancy, increases our memory, and increases red-blood cells. It also assists with muscle mass and fat distribution.
Some things that cause low T in women can be if you have had your ovaries removed, taking estrogen by mouth, early menopause, adrenal insufficiency, or simply getting older. As we age, DHEA decreases contributing to low testosterone levels.
How can we boost Testosterone without taking a supplement?
Some of the foods we eat can increase Testosterone. These foods are filled with nutrients that can help, such as Zinc and vitamin D. Beans, especially black, white and kidney beans, eggs, red meat, onions, brazil nuts, pomegranates, and bananas. Seafood rich in fish oils and omega-3 fatty acids support T are lobster, oysters, crab meat, tuna, salmon, sardines, and liver. Leafy green vegetables that our grandmothers tend to serve at the dinner table are kale, broccoli, swiss chard, and spinach can assist our Testosterone. Ginger and Garlic are two herbs that have many therapeutic uses and health benefits including supporting Testosterone.
Don’t forget the basics… get at least 7 hours of sleep nightly, drink 2-3 liters of water a day, move that body, and try to reduce your stress as these can all assist with T.
How can we make it better?
It is important to see a medical professional who is knowledgeable in hormone therapy which can be quite complicated for some. Obtaining proper testings such as blood tests and saliva tests for accuracy for best outcomes. There are many ways to increase T such as diet, lifestyle, nutritional supplements, creams/gels applied to the skin or into the vagina, intramuscular injections, and pellets that can be placed under the skin.
It can be somewhat intimidating to talk to a healthcare professional about decreased sex drive and impotence for both men and women. It is up to you, to do what is best for you and your partner, the choice is yours. Who doesn’t want an increase in sexual appetite and orgasm, especially over the age of 40 or 50? And I am going to say, your partner will thank you too!
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