What is Testosterone, and How Does It Affect Your Health?

What is Testosterone, and How Does It Affect Your Health?

Hormones are chemicals that your body makes to control a range of essential functions, from sleep cycles and mood to sex drive and fertility. Humans have more than 50 different hormones;  testosterone is the primary hormone responsible for male characteristics.

Testosterone levels naturally fluctuate over your lifetime. But when testosterone gets too low or too high, this imbalance can have a significant impact on your health and your life.

Low testosterone is much more common than high testosterone. In fact, almost 40% of men over age 45 are living with low testosterone and the symptoms it causes. If you’ve noticed a low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, or changes in body composition, it could be a sign of low testosterone.

The good news is that our team at Advanced Urology can help. We specialize in diagnosing and treating low testosterone at our offices in Redondo Beach, Culver City, Los Angeles, and San Pedro, California. It’s time to find out just how important this hormone is for your well-being.

Understanding testosterone

Testosterone is a male sex hormone. It’s created in your testes, and it affects characteristics like sperm creation, sexual function, and other male traits.

Although testosterone is linked to male characteristics, women also have it. It’s created in their ovaries, but women have much smaller amounts of testosterone than men. Testosterone affects bone density, muscle mass, and fat storage in women and men.

Your testosterone levels vary each day and over the course of your life. Testosterone levels naturally increase during puberty and remain relatively constant until age 30, when they begin to drop.

A man’s testosterone declines about 1% every year after age 30. This change is a natural part of the aging process, but testosterone that drops too low or too quickly can trigger some unpleasant symptoms.

Signs of testosterone deficiency

Testosterone deficiency, or hypogonadism, is a medical condition that may be diagnosed if your testosterone levels are lower than normal.

Testosterone deficiency can affect your health and your quality of life, but it can be treated. Some of the most common signs of low testosterone are:

If these symptoms sound familiar, schedule an appointment at Advanced Urology to find out if it could be a hormonal imbalance. Every man’s testosterone levels are different, so there’s no set benchmark used to diagnose testosterone deficiency. 

Testosterone therapy to improve your health

Our team specializes in identifying low testosterone, and we’re here to help you find the  treatment that works for you. We start by reviewing your medical history and your symptoms, using this information to reach a diagnosis.

If we identify a testosterone deficiency, you could be a candidate for testosterone therapy. Testosterone therapy optimizes your hormone levels with the goal of improving your symptoms and your quality of life.

Testosterone therapy is customizable. It’s available in topical gels, oral tablets, injections, and pellet implants. Depending on your symptoms, we can recommend a dosage and method to fit your needs.

Expect to start seeing results 3-6 months after starting testosterone therapy. Our team continues monitoring your testosterone levels, and you will have routine lab tests done every 6-12 months so we can adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Testosterone replacement can revitalize your sex life, boost your energy levels, and more. If you’re bothered by symptoms of testosterone imbalance, it’s time to schedule a consultation at Advanced Urology. Call us or request your first appointment online today.

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