Feeling Less of a Man?  Check Your Testosterone

You used to be invincible.  You leapt out of bed, charged through your day and reacted to an attractive woman at the drop of a hat (which you very graciously picked up and returned to her, remembering to make eye contact.) These days you can’t wake up, get it up, or even feel bothered trying.  Worse, your body is doing really weird things.  Yes men, it’s not just women who experience bothersome body composition changes as they age.  You are just as susceptible.  You too can be moody, tired and ‘not in the mood.’  If you have a perpetual ‘headache’ these days, this article’s for you.  Let’s take a look at some of the symptoms of low testosterone.

• Fatigue-yawning through the day, not feeling rested even after a full night’s sleep.  Yep, MayoClinic.com reports you could have low testosterone.  If you no longer play racket ball with your pals, or are unable to concentrate on the simplest tasks at work…you need to speak to your physician.
• Decreased Muscle or Bone Mass-and we’re not talking about ‘boners’ here.  If your testosterone is unusually low, the strength of your muscles and bones could be in jeopardy.  Are your muscles less firm?  Do you work out regularly but can no longer maintain or increase muscle mass?  Do your muscles ache or feel weak?  If so, you have a problem.  Decreased muscle mass can also be associated directly with decreased bone mass…which will lead to bone pain and fractures.  If you can no longer carry your woman to bed-or even a small child-speak to your physician and don’t waste time doing so.
• Loss of hair-do we dare say ‘hair loss’ out loud?  I know guys; it’s enough to put any alpha male into a complete tizzy.  The simple fact of the matter is, as your testosterone levels decline, your facial or body hair thins, beards can become patchy and you can lose hair in strange places.  (I know- I’m the bearer of all kinds of glad tidings.)  Merck Manuals Online Medical Library reports this-blame them, and go see your doc if your new nickname could be ‘Patchy the Pirate.’
• Gynecomastia-it sounds scary, and it is.  Can you say ‘man boobs’?  Gynecomastia is a condition where a man’s breast tissue abnormally develops (and we’re not talking fatty tissue increase due to a daily dose of Big Macs and French fries.)  According to MayoClinic.com, this condition is a symptom of low testosterone.  Your ‘man boobs’ may be as tender as your wife’s were during pregnancy (you remember that cold, lonely time when all advances were hissed at-now you can relate.)  Can you think of anything more embarrassing than this…well, we kind of can (see below), but this is a big one, folks.  Call…you know who.
• Hot Flashes-ha, ha, ha, ha…there is a God.  Okay men, remember that period when your woman was sweating like a Titanic survivor clinging to a life preserver, and your nightly shut-eye was interrupted by a gasped, “I’m so hot!” followed by the throwing back of the covers?  Well, it can happen to you too, if you have low testosterone.  Hormonal imbalances can affect the way your body regulated its core temperature.   You might start sweating profusely, flushing like a prepubescent teen and unable to sleep at night in your bed/swimming pool.  Kiss your woman and apologize for your prior lack of understanding, and see a doctor.
• Erectile Dysfunction and Infertility-remember I mentioned something more embarrassing than ‘man boobs’?  This would be it.  You’ve spent three hours wining and dining your woman.  She’s wearing a low-cut top and her eyes are green for go.  Oh, yes…you’ve waited all day for this moment.  The mood is right, the lights down low, and everything in the world is as it should be.  And then…like a balloon releasing its air and shrinking down to…well, nothing, your equipment doesn’t work.  Yep, bummer.

According to Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, low testosterone is the culprit.  There’s nothing wrong with you, men.  Repeat after me…I’M A REAL BOY!  If you cannot achieve or maintain an erection during sex, it’s okay.  Really!  Your engine just needs a little tune-up.

Also, if you’re trying for a baby and it’s not happening, could be low testosterone is making sperm production difficult (hopefully you’re not suffering from a Limp Larry and low sperm production.  That would be a double bummer.)

This can be fixed guys.  Don’t let it affect your mojo!

If you can relate to any of these symptoms, see your physician. It’s not like the painful task of asking for directions. It’s as easy as using the telephone to make an appointment and going in to give blood.  Nothing to be worried about; and he’ll even give you a bandaid for your boo-boo.  MAN UP AND TAKE CARE OF IT!  Your woman still needs you!