QUESTION:
I’m just in my fifties, and I think I’m having testosterone troubles. My sex drive is a lot less than it was not so many years ago. Maybe work stress and lifestyle are part of it. I’ve got some trouble sleeping enough. I don’t have any serious drinking issues, but some beer helps me unwind in the evenings. How can I get my testosterone up? What about a supplement or medication for that?
RESPONSE:
Testosterone is a major hormone particularly associated with male biology and your sexual function and also involved with such matters as muscle mass, bone density, blood production in your marrow, facial and body hair, even confidence and good moods. This hormone in your body originates primarily from certain cells in your testicles, but some comes from the adrenal glands that sit on top of your kidneys.
The pituitary gland at the base of the brain sends signals to your testicles that control the production of testosterone, which circulates throughout your body. Basically, a healthy lifestyle, including sufficient exercise, sleep, and avoiding a lot of stress, can all help to keep levels of this hormone in your body at beneficial levels. Sometimes testosterone is vilified as a source of aggression and antisocial behavior, but mostly it is a healthy and natural part of your male biology.
Sexual activity can increase your testosterone levels naturally to beneficial levels, and masturbation is a good way to activate this production, but after you ejaculate, it returns to the baseline level. Your body has a cycle of testosterone production that tends to peak sometime in the early morning before daybreak, which is the reason for “morning wood.”
Though it is quite common for men to experience a decrease in this important hormone as we age, the matter is complex and often associated with lifestyle. Poor diet, being overweight, and sedentary habits can contribute.
If you have not yet done so, I suggest you specifically ask your general practitioner or physician to test your level of testosterone. Opinions vary on whether it is a good idea to take extra testosterone into your system, as sometimes it seems to be associated with mood swings or even some danger of more serious conditions.
Low testosterone levels can contribute to depression and anxiety. Again, consult your physician about this. Ask specifically about possible side effects and drawbacks. To be honest, doctors sometimes rely too much on prescribing pharmaceuticals, so I suggest you do your own research.
Various advertised supplements, some of them quite expensive, imply or even state that they will increase testosterone levels in your body. However, none that I know about is proven effective.
I suggest you look at lifestyle options first and go from there.
A note from The Batemaster: I’m honored that the guys at BateWorld have asked me to respond to some questions from male masturbators around the world every week.
Always check with your doctor about any issues you might be experiencing with your sexual organs. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important. This article’s purpose is to inform and entertain readers and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment.
I can tell you how a testosterone supplement (the gel you rub on your shoulders) affected me. When in my fifties my trainer at the gym suggested I get my testosterone checked. I talked with my doctor and we did a check and found out while not severely low it was on the lower side of normal. I asked if he would prescribe a supplement and he did. Once I started the treatment I had to have my levels checked every three months for correct dosage and a proper testosterone level and to see if it was causing any other problems. I used the gel for around three years before stopping. My testosterone levels would fluctuate over periods of times sometimes being in the 500 range and sometimes too high in the mid 800 range so it definitely made a difference but dosages were changed if it got too high. During the first year after the first 3 months my energy level was highly increased and so was my libido. Sometimes at the gym I felt there was no stopping me. In fact for me I think it increased my libido more than my energy. My penis had sensations in it like when I was 20. And extremely hard erections and sometimes for no reason at all. I felt like I had the need to ejaculate quite often. It was amazing for quite a while because it was like being 20 again. Then it became a little annoying because it was like my penis would not leave me alone. As time went on I think my body must have adjusted to the supplement and my libido leveled off to a normal state and while I had energy it leveled off too. I was told when you take the supplement your body produces less testosterone on its own. But there was a negative aspect to all of this. As time went on my PSA level was increasing. This is one of the things that was checked every six months if I remember correctly. Every time It was checked it was a little higher. My doctor decided and I totally agreed to wean off of it and in doing so the PSA level gradually decreased over time. It went back to a normal range the last time checked was slightly under 3. After my body had adjusted to it and my libido wasn’t driving me crazy I never noticed much of a difference when taking it as opposed to not taking it. I still exercise, eat well and don’t overly drink and don’t smoke. In my sixties now I feel I am doing pretty well for a man my age. While natural erections are not as frequent as in my younger days I get them and in some instances they can get quite hard. I still get morning wood but not every day like the past. Over all I am happy with my libido and don’t have to worry about prostate problems that supplements could cause. Of course every person is different and will react differently. This was my experience with testosterone replacement. My natural levels are now in the lower normal range. I would never take injections or any form of testosterone replacement without the supervision of a doctor. You really need constant monitoring to make sure you are not hurting yourself in some way. In my instance if I was doing this on my own without proper blood monitoring I could have damaged my prostate and who knows what else.
Thanks for your candid assessment of your testosterone treatments, and associated side effects. At this moment, I am embarking (often hesitating) on physician-guided gel Rx to address my own low-T. As with everything in life, there is an element of risk, and we need to weigh those risks for ourselves, then proceed based on personal comfort levels. It’s always comforting to take in some words of advice from guys being treated in addition to those highly-trained in the
Medical Sciences themselves. Your words will possibly sound more familiar and genuine since they’re from a more equal perspective.
Steven, I don’t know if all doctors practice the same but mine really did a lot of blood work. For a while it was every 3 months then when we finally got the dosage correct (in the form of pumps of the gel), we went to every 6 months. You rub the gel into both shoulders. 1, 2, or 3 pumps. My PSA level did not change much the first year and a half. It was nearer the end of the second year that there was gradual increase but with each blood draw it was higher. By year 3 we decided to stop the treatment and then do a blood draw in 3 months. Sure enough the level dropped some. At 6 months it was back to normal. Then I decided with the doctor to stay off of it. When you are on the supplement your body stops making testosterone the doctor told me. My natural levels are now in the lower normal range. It has been a couple of years now since I stopped and I feel fine. I really felt no difference after I stopped. I really think you get use to it as your body adjusts. But I will say during a lot of that first year I definitely noticed very much increased energy and libido. Some guys say it doesn’t increase their libido that much but it sure increased mine for a while. I kept thinking to myself I had forgotten about all of those sensations I had when in my twenties. Anyway, talk with your doctor and follow his/her advice. You can always stop if you want to.