Getting Your Edge Back: Male Wellness in a Modern World
Bridget Hagen DNP, APRN, FNP-C
"As a byproduct of the aging process, men’s testosterone levels decline on average 1% per year starting around age 30. "
Testosterone is a naturally occurring hormone that is central to male wellness. It plays an important role in mood, energy levels, bone health, blood cell formation, muscle development, intimacy function, and overall sense of well-being. (1) Testosterone levels are on the decline in the U.S., (2) resulting in unwanted symptoms that are too often incorrectly assumed to be an unavoidable part of the aging process. Medical solutions such as testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can help. (3) These solutions can often mitigate the symptoms of testosterone deficiency and help men feel younger again.
Consider these five facts:
1. As a byproduct of the aging process, men’s testosterone levels decline on average 1% per year starting around age 30. (4)
2. Beyond this age-derived deterioration, testosterone levels have also been dropping an additional 1% per year in the general population since the 1980s. Meaning, that men often have testosterone levels about 15% lower than men of the same age 15 years prior. (5)
3. Roughly 40% of men now experience testosterone deficiency. (6)
4. Symptoms of low testosterone can sometimes be vague in nature, so laboratory tests can help determine if a testosterone deficiency may be present. (7)
5. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can help optimize testosterone levels and improve quality of life. (8)
If you are experiencing symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, low libido (diminished drive in the bedroom), loss of strength or endurance in workouts, lack of motivation, loss of body hair, irritability, etc. ruling out a hormone imbalance is important. If you are a man over the age of 30 you very well might be in the company of a large and growing population of other men in the United States suffering from testosterone deficiency. Do not let it diminish your life, there are now options to get your edge back.
References:
1 Zitzmann, M. (2020). Testosterone, mood, behaviour and quality of life. Andrology, 8, 1598–1605. DOI: 10.1111/andr.12867
2 Travison, T.G., Araujo, A.B., O’Donnell, A.B., Kupelian, V., & McKinlay, J.B. (2007). A population-level decline in serum testosterone levels in American men. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 92 (1), 196 –202. doi: 10.1210/jc.2006-1375
3 Bassil, N., Alkaade, S., Morley, J.E. (2009). The benefits and risks of testosterone replacement therapy: a review. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 5, 427-448. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2701485/pdf/tcrm-5-427.pdf
4 Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Why are testosterone levels declining https://health.clevelandclinic.org/declining-testosterone-levels
5 Travison, T.G., Araujo, A.B., O’Donnell, A.B., Kupelian, V., & McKinlay, J.B. (2007). A population-level decline in serum testosterone levels in American men. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 92 (1), 196 –202. doi: 10.1210/jc.2006-1375
6 Mulligan T, Frick MF, Zuraw QC, Stemhagen A, McWhirter C. (2006). Prevalence of hypogonadism in males aged at least 45 years: the HIM study. Int J Clin Pract. 2006 Jul;60(7):762-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2006.00992.x. PMID: 16846397; PMCID: PMC1569444.
7 Bassil, N., Alkaade, S., Morley, J.E. (2009). The benefits and risks of testosterone replacement therapy: a review. Therapeutics and ClinicalRisk Management, 5, 427-448. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2701485/pdf/tcrm-5-427.pdf
8 Ibid
