Every second of every day, 50 different hormones are circulating through your body, regulating everything from your appetite to your musculoskeletal health.
While most of these hormones are the same in both men and women, reproductive hormone levels in each sex differ considerably. Men have more androgen hormones, including testosterone, while women have higher levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones.
When these reproductive hormones are out of balance, the effects on your physical and mental health and wellness can be significant.
As a specialist in men’s health, Dr. Moisés Irizarry-Román knows the potential consequences of male hormonal imbalances. That’s why he offers personalized men's health and male medicine solutions at No Mercy Sports Medicine in Miami, Florida.
Here, we look at a few of the telltale signs of a hormone imbalance and how we can help restore equilibrium.
One of the biggest complaints when it comes to lower-than-normal testosterone levels is a lack of energy or overriding fatigue. While it’s perfectly normal to lose small increments of energy levels as you age, considerable drops are another matter entirely.
If your testosterone levels have dropped, the fatigue goes hand-in-hand with a loss of lean muscle mass, which can greatly diminish your energy levels.
Many men with low testosterone levels complain of weight gain, likely associated with the same side effects we mention above — the loss of energy and lean muscle mass.
Testosterone is a reproductive hormone that plays no small role in your sexual health. Many men with low testosterone levels complain of reduced libido and erectile dysfunction.
While it’s widely known that women are more prone to loss of bone density when their estrogen levels dip, men are not immune. Testosterone does aid in bone density and strength, so when this hormone is imbalanced, you may lose a bit of height as your bones compress, or you may be more prone to fractures.
The exact mechanism between low testosterone levels and a decline in mental health isn’t clear, but we do know that there is a connection.
Helping us to this conclusion are studies that find that restoring hormone levels can help alleviate depression and anxiety. As an example, one recent study found that: “Testosterone treatment appears to be effective and efficacious in reducing depressive symptoms in men.”
If you’re noticing any of the signs of a hormone imbalance that we’ve outlined above, we urge you to visit Dr. Irizarry-Román. After fully evaluating your testosterone levels, he can start you on an appropriate hormone replacement therapy to replenish your hormones and improve your health and wellness.
To learn more about hormone replacement therapy and how it can restore balance in your body, contact No Mercy Sports Medicine in Miami, Florida, to schedule an appointment.
