Testosterone is a steroid hormone and is made from cholesterol in the testes for men and ovaries for women. Small amounts are made in the adrenal glands.
The pituitary gland in the brain releases a hormone called luteinizing hormone which acts as a messenger to tell the testes to start making testosterone.
When we talk about hormone imbalance we often think about female imbalances, but it is important to understand that male hormone imbalances are becoming more and more frequent, with the most common being low testosterone, often seen with raised levels of oestrogen.
Low testosterone symptoms include:
- Decreased libido
- Erectile dysfunction
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Depression
Raised oestrogen symptoms include:
- Excess fat – especially around the breast area, hips and stomach
- Low libido
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Fatigue
- Infertility
Causes of Male Hormone Imbalances include continuous stress, lack of sleep, environmental oestrogens from pollutants, plastics and household chemicals, Type 2 diabetes, obesity.
How to Increase Testosterone Production:
- Weight Loss
- Exercise
- Nutritional Support
- Sleep
- Stress Management
FDX Man Ultra identifies the status of over 100 biomarkers including hormones, homocysteine, key minerals such as Zinc, Magnesium, Copper and Selenium, plus comprehensive markers to assess thyroid, iron, blood sugar management and lipid function.
Sample Report:
ADAM Questionnaire for Men:
If you have any concerns about low testosterone then this simple questionnaire is a good place to start:
Check YES or NO for each of the following questions:
- Do you have a decrease in libido (sex drive)? o Yes o No
- Do you have a lack of energy? o Yes o No
- Do you have a decrease in strength and/or endurance? o Yes o No
- Have you lost height? o Yes o No
- Have you noticed a decreased “enjoyment of life?” o Yes o No
- Are you sad and/or grumpy? o Yes o No
- Are your erections less strong? o Yes o No
- Have you noticed a recent deterioration in your ability to play sports? o Yes o No
- Are you falling asleep after dinner? o Yes o No
- Has there been a recent deterioration in your work performance? o Yes o No
If you answered YES to questions 1 or 7 or any 3 other questions, you may be experiencing androgen deficiency (low testosterone levels) and follow up testing may be useful.