Testosterone is a hormone that is present in high amounts in males and small amounts in females. The main function of testosterone is for the development of sexual characteristics at puberty and sex drive as you age. If your levels of testosterone are low, you can have a condition called "hypogonadism." Symptoms of low testosterone are not life-threatening, but they can be hard to deal with.
LOW ENERGY
Testosterone helps to boost energy levels in a normal situation. But when you have low testosterone, your energy levels can be compromised in a number of ways. You can feel constant daily fatigue, tasks that were once routine can take longer and need more effort to do, and your recovery time from exercise can be longer. You actually might get so run down that you need to stop exercising completely.
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MUSCLE WASTING
Muscle is metabolically active tissue, meaning it burns calories when you are just sitting around doing nothing. Testosterone is a major muscle-building hormone. When your levels are low, your muscle mass can deteriorate and your strength levels can become compromised. As a result of this, you can also experience a gain in weight. This excess weight is most commonly gained in the stomach area and it can exacerbate your fatigue.
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
Erectile dysfunction, also known as "impotence," is a condition where you are not able to maintain an erection long enough to complete a sexual experience with your partner. This is a symptom of low testosterone. You can also experience a lower sex drive and infertility.
BREAST DEVELOPMENT
Estrogen is a female dominant hormone that men have in small amounts. When the amount of estrogen becomes elevated and testosterone becomes low, a side effect called "gynecomastia" can take place. This is the development of male breasts. This symptom is also partially caused from the decrease of muscle mass.
REDUCED BONE MASS
Osteoporosis is a condition that commonly takes place in women as they age. The bones lose their density and become weak and brittle. If you have low testosterone levels, you are also susceptible to have low bone mineral density and develop osteoporosis.
MOOD
When your testosterone levels are low, you can also suffer emotional symptoms. You can become depressed, things you used to find interesting will no longer interest you and you can also get mad easily at irrelevant issues.
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