What Exactly Is Testosterone?
Testosterone is a specific hormone but is also a catch all all name that is commonly used when talking about a few different “male hormones” or what we call “androgens.” Testosterone is one of the most important male hormones. The male hormones and especially testosterone helps with strength of muscles, sex drive, and even bone strength.
What does it mean to have “low testosterone” ?
Having low testosterone occurs when your body makes too little testosterone. The exact medical term for when this happens is “androgen deficiency” but most people refer to it as just “low T” As we get older, levels of testosterone tend to get a bit lower. Compared to our ancestors our testosterone levels are already very low. When the levels of testosterone in your blood get too low, symptoms occur
According to a recent report from JAMA, the number of men being treated for “low T” is on the rise. From 2010 to 2013, prescrions and treatments for “Low T” have more than doubled. Most men today will have less testosterone compared to men of the same age even a generation ago. While we are not exactly certain why this is happening researchers believe it is related to a complex web of social, environmental, and behavioral factors.
Research indicates that men’s testosterone levels have been declining for decades! A study that was performed in 2007 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism showed a large drop in american men’s testosterone levels since the 1980s. According to the research, a 60-year-old man in 2004 had testosterone levels 17% lower than those of a 60-year-old in 1987! A study of Danish males showed very similar findings, with double-digit declines among men born in the 1960s when compared to men born in the 1920s.
If you or someone you care about is suffering from the symptoms of low testosterone please seek help. It is very important to get this challenge solved. Click here to reach out to our office.