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Topics: News, World News, Health
Kit Roberts
Experts have revealed seven symptoms which could mean that someone has lower testosterone.
Testosterone as a hormone gets a bad rep, with associations like aggression, or not being able to engage with and control emotions.
But while these things have a sociological association with masculinity, biologically speaking, testosterone is an important hormone in the body, and not just for men either, as women also have a level of testosterone, albeit lower and with higher levels of oestrogen.
Hormones are sort of like chemical instructions to our body, and here we're going to have a look at how having lower testosterone can affect a man's body.
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Your first thoughts might jump to sexual impacts, but this is far from the only thing which can be a sign that your body doesn't have healthy hormone levels to help it function.
This can be treated with supplements, a sort of 'gender affirming care' for cisgender men.
Experts at TRT UK have since shared some signs of low testosterone.
Testosterone can result in higher muscle mass, so if you notice that you're not seeing the gains that you used to, then this might be a sign.
It also functions to maintain muscle mass as well, so if you notice that you're physically weaker without another explanation, that indicates things are lower.
We're not talking the hair on your head here.
This is more body hair and facial hair, which testosterone has a part in growing.
So if things start to thin, or if you're the sort of gent who 'manscapes' and notice that things aren't growing back so much, then this could also be a sign.
A lot of things could cause this, but a hormonal imbalance is one of them.
Testosterone is important in blood flow and signalling to the brain, which are important in things like memory.
Ensuring you are sleeping properly is important for this, as well as making sure you drink enough water.
Testosterone has a big impact on mood and motivation, and having low testosterone could cause changes in this.
You might find that you no longer enjoy hobbies or socializing, and feel more anxious or distant.
There are again a lot of things that this could be a sign of, but it is something that testosterone impacts.
This is another which could mean a lot of things, but seeing a lot of weight gain could be a sign of low testosterone levels.
Both testosterone and oestrogen affect where fat is distributed around the body.
Testosterone supports muscle maintenance in the body, as well as metabolism, so if you make adjustments like altering diet and exercise but still find you're gaining weight, then this could be hormonal.
Again, that could mean a lot of things, but one possibility is that you have low testosterone.
This is because of the hormone's role in energy production, with low levels interfering with the way that your body converts food into energy.
If you notice this, you can try to moderate your diet, sleep patterns, and exercise to see if that helps.
No, not like that.
This is more in the sense of not feeling a drive to do things, or losing your 'spark'.
Again, keeping a healthy lifestyle is there, but if not, then it could potentially be hormonal.
Of course, if you are struggling with any of these symptoms and are worried about them then you can speak to a doctor to get a clearer sense of what might be causing it.