MEN’S CLINIC
HEALTH & WELLNESS
TESTOSTERONE SHOTS
Testosterone
What Happens When You Have Low Testosterone?
Low testosterone can manifest itself in a number of ways. Some of the most common symptoms experienced are increased body fat, weakness, fatigue, loss of libido, mood disturbances, and erectile dysfunction.
Testosterone has a widespread impact on the way the body works and affects nearly all of the body’s systems. T plays a key role in metabolism, by affecting how the body uses its caloric intake and encouraging muscle protein synthesis. Excess abdominal fat can decrease the body’s levels of testosterone and boost estrogen production in males.
The most common reason for lowered T production is simply aging. Research has shown that testosterone levels in aging males fall 1-2% each year after age thirty.
Scientists have also found a link between low T and chemical imbalances in the brain, which may be why men with low T frequently report symptoms such as low libido, fatigue, and mood disturbances.
In recent years two different studies – one done by researchers at Saint Louis University and the other by the Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan – found that testosterone replacement therapy was an effective treatment for mild depression.
Alpha Male began as our high performance male clients began asking us about Testosterone therapy. They are athletes, first responders, and high performers in all areas of life and wanted to keep and enhance their edge as they age and for a lifetime.
If you are looking for a judgment free zone where you feel accepted, and your goals are prioritized please join us at Alpha Male for a consultation. We can solve your low libido, low energy, and lack of motivation through simple blood tests and testosterone optimization.
What Is
Loss of Male Libido?
Loss of libido or low sex drive refers to a man’s lack of motivation to engage in sexual activity. It is a common sexual complication that one in five men will experience randomly throughout their sexual history as adults. Typically, men who experience a loss in sex drive deal with a range of daily issues, such as professional or personal stress, that can adversely affect their mental health and cause their libido to decrease. In addition, life-changing events such as physical trauma or injury can also contribute to the loss of libido in men. Usually, most cases of low libido are temporary and easily corrected after making a few lifestyle changes. However, there are some instances when low libido can become a consistent factor in a man’s life, eventually leading to various sexual problems such as erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. After some time, the constant frequency of these sexual complications can negatively change the quality of their relationship with their sexual partner or significant other, further adding to their stress and making it more difficult to interact in sexual activity.
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Decreased sex drive is typically more common in men over 40 and is usually attributed to the natural decline of their sexual performance as they age. But in certain cases, the signs of low libido in males can also affect younger men and indicate underlying medical issues that can have a massive impact on their physiology and adversely affect their overall sexual health.
What Causes Low Sex Drive in Men?
Several factors can cause men to lose their desire for sex. Health issues such as low testosterone, mental health, and chronic illness can affect the levels of certain sex hormones and negatively affect a man’s desire to interact in sexual intercourse. Particular treatments for specific medical issues can also affect the body and inadvertently cause low libido. Even certain lifestyle choices or habits can cause men to experience periodic episodes of decreased libido. Due to all of the various elements that can affect a man’s sex drive, men who suspect they have low libido should explore all possible causes with their physician to determine the source of their sexual problems.
The Effect of Low Testosterone
Testosterone is an essential male hormone responsible for regulating various physical functions, including sperm production, muscle growth, and sexual desire. However, after age 40, men will enter a phase of andropause, a condition where testosterone levels will gradually drop by 1% yearly and affect the ability to maintain certain physical functions, including sexual performance, thus, making it more difficult for them to remain attracted to the idea of sex.
Low testosterone can also occur due to hypogonadism, a medical condition where the testes reduce or stop testosterone production altogether. And when testosterone levels suddenly drop below expected standards, it can accelerate the presence of various age-related symptoms such as decreased muscle mass, constant fatigue, and loss of sex drive.
Side Effects of Medication
Certain medications can also negatively affect hormone levels and lead to low libido in men. For example, men who take ACE inhibitors and beta blockers for blood pressure may experience a severe drop in testosterone, making it more difficult to remain interested in sexual intercourse and maintain erections. Other medications can also affect testosterone levels and cause low libido, including:
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Antidepressants
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Chemotherapy or radiation
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Opioids
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Histamine blockers for heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux
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Heart failure medications
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Corticosteroids
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Antifungal medications such as ketoconazole
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Men who take specific medications that cause low libido as a side effect will need to discuss other alternatives with their physician to avoid experiencing a loss of sex drive.
Depression
Mental health conditions such as depression can also cause men to exhibit reduced interest in their regular activities, including sexual intercourse with their partner. Unfortunately, antidepressant medications used to treat depression can also cause sexual problems like low libido as a side effect of treatment.
Typically, serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitors (SNRIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most common antidepressants to cause low libido as a side effect and include a range of medications such as:
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Fluoxetine (Prozac)
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Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
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Sertraline (Zoloft)
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Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
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Paroxetine (Paxil)
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However, other antidepressants such as norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors have not been shown to cause decreased libido in men. These antidepressants include:
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Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
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Mirtazapine (Remeron)
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Men who take antidepressants and suspect they have symptoms of low libido should discuss alternative treatment options with their physician. Medications such as mirtazapine and bupropion may be the best alternatives to help men treat their sexual problems while taking antidepressants.
Chronic Illness
Patients who suffer chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes may also experience decreased sexual desire. The most common chronic conditions physicians have found to cause low libido in men usually include:
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Arthritis
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Kidney disease
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Heart disease
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Neurological diseases
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Musculoskeletal disorders
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Cancer
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Autoimmune diseases (HIV/AIDS)
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As previously stated, certain medications prescribed to treat these issues can also cause men to have no sex drive. If you’re suffering from chronic illness and experiencing a loss of sex drive, discuss possible alternative medications and methods with your physician to help you find a solution.
Lifestyle Factors
There are many lifestyle factors that can cause males to have low libido. They include:
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Alcohol or substance abuse
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Overeating habits
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Consistent lack of sleep
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Constant exposure to stressful environments or situations
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Lack of free time for sexual intercourse
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Changing the nature of these factors can help men increase their libido. Consulting a wellness expert can provide tips and methods men can practice to alter their lifestyles and improve their chances of restoring their libido.
How To Improve a Low Sex Drive in Men
There are many ways for men with low libido to improve their sex drive. Eating natural foods like chocolate can help promote the release of serotonin and phenylalanine, two aphrodisiac chemicals that are proven to improve the lack of sex drive in men. Other natural ways to treat decreased libido include:
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Meditating to relieve stress
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Incorporating aphrodisiac fruits into your diet
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Exercising regularly
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Taking herbal supplements like Yohimbe or Ginkgo biloba
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Avoid high alcohol intake
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If you’re still suffering from low libido after trying these methods, then you may need to consider alternative medical treatment such as testosterone replacement therapy.
How Soon Will I See Results From HRT?
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Just like any other new medical regimen, it will take your body some time to get used to HRT. Once treatment begins, it may take six to eight weeks before your body is fully adjusted to the hormone replacement therapy medications. However, after four to six months, you should be able to completely experience the benefits of male hormone replacement therapy.
How to Start Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)? What Do I Need?
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To start the Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) process, we must first obtain a full health and hormone bloodwork panel. We can help set this up for you in as quick as a few minutes over the phone. Once we have the results, we will be able to schedule your consultation. In this consultation, the nurse practitioner will go over your symptoms, goals for treatment, bloodwork results and medical history to customize a TRT program specifically for you. All you need to do is give our office a call to get you started.
The doctors and support staff at Jeanna Masone/Alpha Male can help optimize your overall health and wellbeing with customized wellness plans that utilize male hormone replacement therapy.
We are affordable with membership options, extremely convenient with late night and morning appointment offerings, and we make testosterone replacement therapy a seamless integration into your life.