What Is Testosterone?
Low Testosterone Levels - Increase Testosterone
In very simple terms, Testosterone is a hormone. This leads us to the next question, which is, what is a hormone? A hormone is a special type of chemical released by glands in our body that, with the help of a receptor mechanism, enables the gland to commence certain critical body processes by acting as a catalyst. Testosterone is a naturally produced steroid hormone which plays a very important part in many critical physical processes. A steroid belongs to a special class of hormones called Terpenoid Lipid. As we age, it decreases, so we are interested in ways to increase testosterone.
The main role of the hormone Testosterone is in the sexual development of the male species, which is why it is also called the male sex hormone. It is primarily responsible for the all round development and functioning of the male sexual and reproductive system and all the associated physical processes and qualities that are normally and naturally associated with the male gender. Besides this, it has an equally important role to play in a number of other vital body functions.
The Reasons For Low Testosterone Levels
There are a number of reasons associated with the lowering of testosterone levels in the human body. Let us take a look at a few of them below….
The process of Aging
Scientific studies have indicated that once past the age of 40 years, males show a gradual decrease in the testosterone levels in their bodies which has been measured to be at a rate of 2% per annum leading to the onset of a phase called andropause which is the equivalent to menopause in women. During andropause, there is a gradual decline in the reproductive capacity of the male leading to an almost complete cessation of the sexual and reproductive capabilities.
While this may sound quite depressing to most males, you should note that this rate of decline is different for each individual and that your overall health will also play a definitive part in determining just how great and how soon this phase overcomes you.
Effects of Hypogonadism
Known Hypogonadism is of two types – Primary and Secondary and has been found to be a major cause for low testosterone levels. While primary hypogonadism is the abnormal production in testicular matter, it is known to be an acquired deficiency and at a congenital level. Secondary hypogonadism on the other hand is the indication of the abnormal functioning of the pituitary glands.
Drug Intake And Disorders
Another key factor resulting in the drop in testosterone levels is the affliction by certain disorders as also the intake of some drugs. Disorders like diabetes and testicular cancer have a direct impact on the drop in testosterone levels in males. While glucocorticoids consumed to treat acute allergies and ketoconazole used to treat skin ailments could affect testosterone level drops, zinc deficiency in your diet and exposure to drugs like opiates can also cause testosterone levels to drop severely.
Low testosterone levels may cause a drop in male libido but does not mean that you cannot live a normally healthy and active sexual life.