Stay Alert

Low Testosterone (T) in either gender can be a problem. And it's often been discussed here on the blog. But what about the opposite? What about High T levels?

High levels can have a detrimental effect on overall health. You may be getting great boners, but other symptoms may be hampering your style. Ladies may find an increased libido, but high levels of T can cause issues for them as well.

Perfect hormonal balance is probably pie-in-the-sky. Too low and the ladies lose interest in sex and us guys have trouble getting our poles to rise properly.

In the article "Signs of High Testosterone", Healthline has provided a list of symptoms that can be warning signs of High T that can help us avoid some very serious issues, such as high blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, nausea, and headaches.

Yet, here's a confusing one: Fatigue. Why is that confusing? Because it's one of the most common signs of Low T. This is why your doctor needs to do a proper blood test, and do a proper physical exam as well, which includes asking questions about overall health, and looking at signs such as "body hair growth  and abnormal sex organ size (breasts or testicles)."

Causes can vary, though if blood tests indicate High T, guys should ask a physician to look for: "Tumor growth near hormonal glands such as adrenal or testicles" (Ball Check, anyone?).

Stay alert when it comes to health. The boner may be a barometer of overall health

but, sometimes, it can fool us into complacency.

Hormones and Headaches

It's long been known that migraines and hormones are linked for many women. My own mom suffered for many years until she underwent a complete Historectomy.

Studies are now showing the same in men. And, it appears that Low T (low testosterone) may be the culprit.

Replacement therapy is showing these guys some relief with cluster headaches. "The Connection Between Low T and Headaches," from Healthline details a recent published study.

"A more recent study published in the journal Maturitas looked at the effect of testosterone on migraine headaches in a small group of pre- and postmenopausal women. The researchers found that implanting small testosterone pellets under the skin helped to relieve migraines in both groups of women.

More research is needed to test these findings to learn if testosterone therapy is a safe and effective treatment for some types of headaches. It’s possible that testosterone might help prevent or relieve headaches by:

• stopping cortical spreading depression (CSD), a disruption of electrical activity in your brain that may cause migraines
• increasing levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that carries messages from one part of your brain to another
• widening blood vessels in your brain, which can help improve blood flow
• reducing swelling in your brain

T replacement hasn't been FDA approved for treating headaches, but you can still talk to your doctor about using it as an experimental treatment. Because, chances are, if you have Low T, you're also suffering with flagging erections and low libido.

If you've noticed fewer mornings with solid boners, a lower number of spontaneous boners, and boners which are not quite up to par, and those symptoms last longer than a few weeks...if the issue is not anxiety, depression, or illness, Low T could be the problem.

But, I would caution any guy looking for testosterone replacement therapy to go for a bio-identical cream. There are way fewer side effects than the typical stuff prescribed by physicians.

You may have to bicker with your insurance provider to convince them to cover the cream but, in the long run, it will be worth it.

Outward Signs

Andropause. Male Menopause. Yes, we go through menopause. And it can be as difficult physically and mentally for men as it can be for women. I can attest to that.

Part of the reason mine set in with such ferocity is that my balls never developed properly due to a serious case of mumps. So, when my testosterone levels began dropping off it was noticeable at an earlier age than most men experience.

Spontaneous boners didn't appear as often. When I did get a woody it wouldn't get as hard. I would get tired in the afternoon. My energy levels just tanked - normal activities would wear me out faster. Physical exertion caused me to tire quickly. A roller-coaster of depression set in. I didn't sleep well; tossing and turning, waking often. Morning wood? Not a chance. And that alone was reason to be depressed. 

Sex held no interest and became a chore.

Even jacking off wasn't much of a treat.

Though the Muscular Dystrophy proved to add to many of my symptoms, others pointed toward Andropause. Outward signs can be loss of body hair, breasts get larger, loss of muscle mass and weakness (a sure sign: the butt sags). Oh...some men may actually experience hot flashes. Yes, I said hot flashes. That one is also from personal experience.

Testosterone replacement is only one treatment for Andropause. There are other treatments available. If you recognize any of the symptoms in yourself, go see your doctor for a complete check-up.

According to Healthline's recent article, Warning Signs of Male Menopause, "Lifestyle changes may also help. According to Godec, 'a healthy lifestyle is the best guarantor that your testosterone will remain at a healthy level as you age.' Make sure to exercise, eat a healthy diet, and maintain a healthy weight."

To which I would add: Maintaining friendships and relationships can help keep you grounded and on track.

It's A Myth

It's a total myth that men are horny 100% of the time. It's only 99%. LOL. Jean has sent a link to a very interesting article from the UK Daily Mail about women's low libido. (Why is it that our papers here in the US don't write about these things on a regular basis?) And, ironically, those same symptoms are what causes guys to lose interest, too.

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Lose interest in sex? Men? Yes, we do. It's okay to admit it. We should admit it. It's to our benefit to admit it. Let go of that machismo attitude and say it. We go through life changes and challenges that can totally affect our interest in sex. Dr. Rachel Carlton Abrams describes low libido as a "lack of spontaneous desire for sex" that includes masturbation.

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Her eight reasons are: Repressed sexuality (upbringing); low body confidence (low self-esteem in appearance); previous trauma or bad sexual experience (molestation, or a really bad early experience); painful sex (overly sensitive glans, or testicular pain during ejaculation); low testosterone; underlying medical issues (remember boners are our barometer); stress and being "too busy" (self-explanatory); lack of trust (we have lost trust in our partner(s).

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Each and every one of those can (and do) cause a low sex drive in anyone - man or woman. There are no resolutions offered in her article. But suffice it to say that a lack of interest is a health issue - whether mental or physical - and you should see your doctor.

Speak openly, frankly, and work together to solve the problem. 

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Then get back on that horse, whatever your preference for release.

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