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THE TESTOSTERONE TEST – The Lowdown on Low T

Low T

Get your tablets out: True or False:

  1. Men stay virile forever
  2. Men get male menopause
  3. Low T stands for low opportunity to get the hot partner they long for
  4. Oysters make you horny

Answers: False. True. False. False. (but go ahead and think it if you love oysters)

After the age of 20, it’s thought that growth hormone levels in men drop around 14% every 10 years. That means by the time a man is 40 years old he’s lost about half of his 20-year-old growth hormones, and at 80 only 5% of the growth hormones remain. Unlike Peter Pan, you will grow up and with it, down go the hormones. Which is where the new guy on the hormone block comes in. This decrease in testosterone is often referred to as andropause, or male menopause. In the U.S. alone, andropause is thought to affect about 10 million men. “Andropause”? Who thought that one up? Is it the same as low T? Nope. They are not synonymous. Andropause is the gradual (note “gradual”, and stop sweating for a minute) decline of natural testosterone production and levels over time, something that does not occur in all men, and when it does, happens at different stages in their lives in different levels.  Andropause (which a lot of medical people question existing at all), is something that is (generally) independent of your starting testosterone level. Low testosterone (or low T) is a condition that must be clinically diagnosed, and this can happen at any age and be caused by a variety of different diseases or disorders. Andropause is not necessarily caused by low T, but people can get confused when it comes to some of the overlapping symptoms:

  • Fatigue
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Infertility
  • Weight problems
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Insomnia
  • Loss of bone mass
  • Loss of endurance
  • Hair loss
  • Depressed mood
  • Anxiety
  • Muscle weakness or loss
  • Loss of height
  • Change in ratio of fat to muscle
  • And here’s the killer to guys—man breasts (NO, the dreaded man boobs) as they’re colloquially known.

Pause to Find the Real Answers

Low t can be troubling to any man. And just the thought of male menopause and what you consider to be the embarrassment of it can make you want to keep the problem to yourself. It’s not easy to talk about. But without question, the symptoms are not easy to live with. But there is an answer that is easy to live with, and his name is Stephen A. Goldstein M.D., F.A.C.S. at Denver Hormone Health. With years of experience and expertise in the area of testosterone and the issues surrounding it, he knows how to diagnose and treat any problems you might have with care and integrity. You might not even realize what’s really going on, but with simple tests, Dr. Goldstein can. And from there, he creates a treatment plan that’s tailored to you to make you feel your best.

Don’t avoid the issue.

Call for an appointment now.

In all ways, it’s the answer you’re looking for.

THE TESTOSTERONE TEST – It’s Encyclopedic

testosterone

Denver, test this: what’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word “Testosterone”?

  • Sex
  • Masculinity
  • Aggressive
  • Brave
  • Adultery
  • Selfishness
  • Unromantic
  • All of the above

If you’re a woman who’s ever been burned by what you think is an over-testosterone-loaded guy, ALL OF THE ABOVE would be the best answer. So, let’s really talk “testosterone”. Produced mainly in the testicles, testosterone has a crucial role in a number of body functions, including: development of male sex organs, the growth of body hair, deepening of the voice in puberty, sperm production (swim, little guys, swim…) It also improves muscle mass and bone density and will also have a positive effect on the heart, brain and blood vessels. Fact is, it affects nearly every cell in the male body.

But Surprise…

Here’s a few facts that might raise an eyebrow or two:

  • Men newly in love, have lower testosterone levels than men flying solo or with a long-term partner
  • Testosterone can shrink your belly fat
  • Making money affects your testosterone level–young men who are futures traders get a testosterone spike on days when they make an above-average profit, British researchers found
  • Too much can shrivel testicles–in men, taking steroid hormones such as testosterone as performance boosters can cause testicles to shrink and breasts to grow
  • Sports fans get a winner’s boost–after a big sports game, the winner’s testosterone will increase substantially. And fans’ hormone levels seem to mirror those of their athletic idols. (Enough to get you off the couch, couch potatoes?)
  • It’s not the fountain of youth
  • Low levels are linked to sleep apnea
  • Too much may kill brain cells (Duh…)
  • Amazing hormone, this testosterone.

Estrogen? Not Me. No way. No how.

A male begins to produce testosterone as early as seven weeks after conception. Testosterone levels rise during puberty, peak during the late teen years, and then level off. After age 30 or so, it’s normal for a man’s testosterone levels to decrease slightly every year. As testosterone levels in men decrease, their estrogen levels increase. Oh yeah, sorry guys. You’ve got estrogen. (But then women have testosterone) Messed up as it may seem, it’s fact. But not to worry, the normal increase in testosterone is not going to make you want to go all Caitlin Jenner. So, here’s the million-dollar question tearing through your minds; why is estrogen important for men? It’s not the kind of question men discuss in gym locker rooms, the 9th hole or around a poker table. But estrogen plays an important role in men’s overall health. Too little estrogen can predispose men to osteoporosis and lead to bone fractures. Slightly elevated levels double a man’s risk of stroke and even higher incidence of coronary artery disease. Men with higher blood estrogen levels may be at higher risk for enlarged prostate or prostate cancer.

It’s All in The Balance

Like all the hormones coursing through our bodies sending signals to the organs to work or not, testosterone is no different. It’s sort of like Goldilocks and the Three Hormone Levels. This one is too low, this one is too high, this one is just right. Low testosterone (low T) can be caused by everything from kidney or liver disease to certain types of cancer. High estrogen can be caused by everything from too much alcohol to too many carbs. Balance, comes from an expert in hormone therapy, and you’re fortunate to have one of the best here in the Denver area— Stephen A. Goldstein M.D., F.A.C.S. at Denver Hormone Health.  He understands, he’s easy to talk to about such a delicate subject with, and more importantly, he knows what to do to help. With simple tests, he can target your problem, then create a treatment plan exclusively for your issues.

Call for an appointment now.

More than any other specialist, he passes the test.

Time Magazine Puts Manopause On Its Cover!

Emerging Testosterone Market 

Manopause
In the August 18th issue of Time Magazine, Time highlights the emerging testosterone market across the nation. While not exactly approved by the FDA, men are flocking to testosterone clinics in growing numbers to recapture their youth and manhood. Testosterone levels typically peak in a man’s 20’s and fall 1% – 2% each year after. Some of the symptoms of Low-T may include:

  • Diminished Sex Drive
  • Depression
  • Hair Loss
  • Reduced Muscle Mass
  • Low Sperm Count
  • Frail Bones

Spending on Testosterone Therapy Skyrockets

Spending on testosterone therapy has gone up 2,800% since 2009, projections continue to climb with yearly U.S. sales expected to be $3.8 billion in 2018.

While the Time article focuses too much on an entrepreneur who has opened 49 testosterone clinics in 11 states, it also highlights the “foggy science” behind the studies that testosterone therapy may lead to heart attacks and strokes. Time states that, “No matter what you think about testosterone therapy, some scientist somewhere has data to back you up.”

People who read this also read: Menopause Vs Andropause Infographic

For the complete article, pick up Time Magazine (August 18, 2014), or, subscribe on-line at: www.time.com.