Hafa Adai! June is men’s health month. This column I’m addressing an important but not often talked about health issue that can significantly impact men’s well-being — low testosterone. Low testosterone levels, or low-T, is a condition where the body doesn’t produce enough of the hormone testosterone.
Here’s what you need to know about it. Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone responsible for many crucial functions beyond just sexual health. It plays a key role in maintaining muscle mass, bone density, red blood cell production, and even cognitive abilities.
When testosterone drops below normal levels, it can lead to a range of physical, sexual, and emotional symptoms. While testosterone levels naturally decline with age, low-T can affect men at any stage of life. However, it becomes more common as men enter their 40s, 50s, and older.
Certain medical conditions like obesity, diabetes, and hypogonadism can also contribute to low testosterone levels in younger men. The symptoms of low-T can be diverse and may develop gradually, often going unnoticed initially. Common indicators include decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, low semen volume, loss of body hair, fatigue, loss of lean muscle mass, increased body fat, mood changes like irritability or depression, and difficulty concentrating.
Many men mistakenly attribute these issues to normal aging, but they could be indicative of a treatable condition. There are various potential causes, including natural .
