The 5 signs that you should have your testsoterone checked

Needing to shave less frequently is one symptom that your testosterone levels may be low, experts say. (Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc./Blend Images/Corbis, US Health & WB)



The truth behind the hype:
Almost all men experience an age-related decline in testosterone at the rate of about 1 percent per year beginning around age 20, Eisenberg told US Health&WB. But some men have a condition known as hypogonadism, which is characterized by low testosterone levels and symptoms such as loss of libido.

Testosterone Tests Become More Common — But Problems Remain
Fortunately, a simple blood test is all it takes to check your T levels. But while screening rates have increased over the past several years, many men aren’t being tested correctly, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The research team looked at health data on more than 320,000 adult men, about 10,000 of whom had undergone testosterone testing. From 2009 to 2012, the testing rate increased from 2.5 percent of men to 3.6 percent.

Should You Have Your T Levels Tested?
It’s important to note that low testosterone levels alone are not an actual condition or diagnosis. “All men experience an age-related decline in testosterone, but that is not always associated with symptoms or signs that are seen in the clinical diagnosis of hypogonadism,” Malik said, adding that the most common symptom is low libido.

Defining low testosterone is also complicated by the natural, but often substantial, age-related decline in levels of the hormone. By age 80, about half of men have concentrations low enough to justify clinical hypogonadism. “When we talk about normal levels, there are certain age adjustments we should make,” Eisenberg said. “[Researchers are] still trying to decide if the same testosterone cutoff is really applicable to everybody.”

Here are the FIVE tell tale symptoms of low testosterone. If you experience any of them, head to your doctor and talk about eliminating these problems with a testosterone booster.

1. Your sex drive has tanked.
It can be difficult to know if a lack of sex drive might be a problem, or if it’s only a temporary reaction to something that’s going on in your life, such as stress at work. A rule of thumb: If you or your partner is bothered by it, speak to your doctor. Substantial research shows that as sexual drive wanes, so too does libido, Walsh said.

2. Your night time erections are gone.
As soon as you first notice that you have lost spontaneous erections, make an appointment with your doctor, Walsh said. This is a common symptom of hypogonadism in men, but it’s also strongly connected to cardiovascular health. So it’s a good idea to get checked out sooner rather than later in case you might have an underlying cardiovascular problem.

3. You see strange physical symptoms, such as breast enlargement or loss of body hair.
Testosterone is involved with sweat production, hair follicle development, and hair growth. It is also linked with estrogen, a hormone that plays a role in breast development. If you notice breast growth or realize you’re not shaving as frequently as you used to, you might benefit from testosterone booster.

4. You’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Testosterone is necessary to maintain normal bone density, Walsh said. Studies of prostate cancer patients have shown that bone health suffers when men are robbed of testosterone, but hormone replacement therapy can maintain normal bone health in some men. Walsh recommends that all men with osteoporosis receive testosterone screening.

5. You feel as if you’re going through menopause.
Very low testosterone in men can trigger menopause like symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, Eisenberg explained. “When you put these men on a testosterone booster, they feel better right away,” he said. “It’s really gratifying that there’s really a lot we can do.”

If you have any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor about a testosterone boost. You may also want to ask for a test that gives you your total, bound, and free testosterone levels, many of these symptoms can be combated with a pre-emptive strike of a testoterone booster such as TestoPure, the market leader when it comes to boosting the bodies own natural testosterone production.