Low Testosterone ("Low T") in OKC

Male Menopause, It’s a “Guy Thing”

Weren’t your 20’s great?! You were the Man, attracting women with the wink of an eye, a tight pair of jeans, and a flash of an electric smile. And with a reasonably clever pick-up line, you were "In, like Flynn".

Fast forward to the present. Things may have changed for you. You may have lost your fearlessness and powerful “Swagger” that defined you as a younger man. Your body has changed. You’re not as lean and buff as you used to be. Your “6-pack” has been traded in for a Beer gut. Mentally and physically, you don’t feel as sharp and as strong as you used to. You may be depressed and irritable. You have little motivation and energy, and you may struggle just to get through another day at work. To make matters worse, your sexual function, libido, and performance is inadequate, unsatisfying for you and your partner. It is embarrassing for you. The morning erections have disappeared. You become phobic and start to avoid sex and intimacy. Your partner notices, and thinks you may be impotent.

The Problem may be Low T

What’s wrong? A lot of men think that this is a normal process that all men go through. It is a part of aging. You rationalize that sex is less of a biological drive for a man in his 30s and beyond. This subject is rarely the type of thing you can discuss with your partner or with your buddies. With this thinking, couples in effect sentence themselves to a life devoid of essential sexual intimacy and fun, failing to recognize that this is a medical issue which could be diagnosed and treated. The medical condition may be low testosterone or Low T syndrome. An estimated 13 million men have Low T. Low T in OKC is not a rarity. Truthfully speaking, a healthy man with a normal testosterone level can enjoy the full range of sex throughout his entire life. Yes, a 70-year-old man may have more “swagger” and “game” than you do.

What is Low Testosterone (Andropause)

Relax. You haven’t lost your ‘Mojo’. Instead, what may be happening to men who can relate to this set of symptoms and circumstances is Andropause commonly called "male menopause". Andropause is characterized by Low T, the loss of testosterone, the hormone in the androgen hormone class that is responsible for the secondary-sex characteristics that occur in puberty to make Men look, act and function like men. For unknown reasons, the level of testosterone, which is produced by the testes under the direction of pituitary hormones LH and FSH in the brain, drops in men starting as early as age 30, and dropping at a rate of 1-1.5% per year. That’s 10-15% for every decade past 30.

Meanwhile, a circulating protein which binds testosterone, Sex-Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) which makes testosterone unavailable for biologic effects, increases with age. This occurrence further enhances testosterone-deficiency. Unlike the precipitous fall in estrogen levels that women experience in menopause, the gradual loss of testosterone may take a few years to make its impact on men. When it does, in many ways, the symptoms resemble that of a menopausal woman. The key difference is that whereas menopause is the end of the reproductive phase of a woman’s life, Andropause does not herald the end of a man’s reproductive life or ability.

Symptoms of Low Testosterone (Andropause)

The symptoms of Andropause include, but are not limited to fatigue, depression, irritability, nervousness, memory impairment, loss of concentration, loss of confidence, insomnia, hot flashes and sweating. Sexual symptoms include reduced interest in sex, erection problems, and failure to achieve orgasm. Outside of these symptoms, andropause may also lead to the intensification of pain for chronic pain sufferers. Physically, a decline in testosterone levels may include changes to the body habitus and body shape and body fat and muscle composition. It may promote insulin-resistance resulting in changes in how the body stores fat, leading to ‘Buddha belly’, ‘beer gut’ and the ‘man-boob’ look. Complicating this increase in body fat stores leads to increased levels of the enzyme called ‘aromatase’, whose function is to convert testosterone into estrogen, which lowers available testerone in a man who is already testosterone-deficient.

What Can you do about Low T?

What can you do if you think you are suffering from andropause? First, tell us about it. Our physician and medical director is aware of this condition and its impact on men's health and wellness. Through blood tests, we may be able to confirm the presence of low testosterone and may be able to rule out any other condition that may be responsible for some of these same symptoms. Most men in this age group can use this opportunity to be screened for prostate cancer (PSA blood test and digital rectal exam), which is still a leading cause of death for men in America. If low testosterone is confirmed, typically below 250 nanograms per deciliter, the doctor may initiate treatment to supplement your levels with testosterone injection, androgen cream, gel (Androgel, Testim), pellet or patches (Testiderm scrotal patches or Androderm). The goal is to bring the testosterone level into balance that would be normal for your age or, as some anti-aging physicians believe, into the higher ranges for the average 30-year-old man. In most cases, the mental, physical and sexual symptoms recede or disappear pretty quickly for most men. Life gets really good again. The goal is not, however, to bring the levels higher than what would be normal or physiologic, as occurs with the illicit and potentially harmful use of testosterone in bodybuilding.

Are there Any Risks with Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

As with any medical treatment, there are potential risks when using testosterone, and the doctor will discuss these risks with you. A significant concern is the role that testosterone may play in a subtype of prostate cancer. This concern is valid, but some doctors believe and a few studies have shown that the risk of prostate cancer may be higher in low-testosterone males, and that the risks can be lowered with testosterone treatment in those individuals. The key is balancing the known and suspected risks of treatment with those of not being treated. It is clear that testosterone replacement is not recommended for patients with a history of androgen hormone-sensitive tumors. Testosterone may also lead to oily skin and acne. It may exacerbate problems with BPH or prostate enlargement. Testosterone replacement therapy may also improve prostate function.

Benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy

  • Improves Mental Cognitive function
  • Improves Mood (depression, anxiety, anger)
  • Improves Sleep patterns
  • Improves Sexual function (Libido and Erectile function)
  • Lowers Body Fat
  • Increases Lean Muscle Mass
  • Improves Thyroid function
  • Improves Insulin sensitivity
  • Protects against Alzheimers
  • Protects against bone loss/osteoporosis
  • May provide protection against heart disease

Get Back on the road to Vitality and Virility!

To get started, give us a call at BodyTrends, and we will schedule a consultation with the physician. Because Low T involves issues and circumstances that potentially make some men feel uncomfortable, you can rest assured that your information will be treat respectfully and with the utmost sensitivity and confidentiality. To diagnose Low T, blood work will be required. If the blood work suggests low testosterone, we will suggest options for replacement.

Contact us or Call BodyTrends Today at (405) 759-7524 if you have questions about Low T or would like to set up an appointment for a confidential consultation. Feel free to bring your spouse or partner.

HOME | WHAT IS IT? | LOCATIONS | TREATMENTS | RESULTS | CONTACT | TABLE OF CONTENTS | LINKS

© 2007-2011 Body Trends the ElectroSpa
Website Designed by Proud Solutions; Re-designed by Castle McCall Web Design