When you love someone, it’s hard to ignore when they’re not acting like themselves, or when something is bothering them.
As partners, this is particularly true when our husbands or boyfriends are in question, and sometimes we blame ourselves for their behavior.
But often, it has nothing to do with us or anything we did.
But rather, it has to do with what’s going on inside of them, with conditions such as low levels of testosterone being to blame.
Many women and partners who have boyfriends or husbands that start losing interest in sexual activites, or become moody towards them often assume the worst.
“Are they cheating on me?” You might ask. “Are they not attracted to me anymore?” You might question.
But there’s a very good chance that that is not the case, and your partner could instead be suffering from the effects of having low testosterone levels.
But the good news is that there are solutions for this problem, such as Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), that your husband or boyfriend may undergo to fix the problem.
But in order to know if they need TRT, you must understand the complexities that cause low testosterone levels, and what may indicate your husband or boyfriend is a good candidate for the treatment.
What is Low Testosterone?
Testosterone is a hormone that men naturally produce, with the majority of production taking place in the testicles.
This hormone is responsible for supporting bodily functions related to the maintenance of a man’s fat distribution, bone density, red blood cell production, and facial and body hair growth.
When the testosterone levels are too low, which typically occurs when the average man’s testosterone levels are below 300 nanograms of testosterone per deciliter (ng/dL) of blood, all of these bodily functions are affected.
And with so many functions being supported by this hormone, the effects can be debilitating, and this is normally when a partner can start to notice it.
What are the Symptoms of Low Testosterone Levels?
As mentioned in the introduction, symptoms of lower testosterone in our partners can make us feel like we’re the problem, even though we have nothing to do with them.
By knowing the symptoms, we can better identify if testosterone levels might be low, and help our partner get the necessary help they need to fix the problem.
Symptoms of lower testosterone can include any of the following:
- Fertility problems or reduction in semen
- Problems getting and maintaining erections
- General reduction in testicle size
- Significant loss in muscle mass
- Noticeable weight gain
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Balding or general hair loss
- Higher susceptibility to fractures due to lower bone density
- Lower sexual libido or performance
- Mood swings
- General depression / lack of motivation
Noticing one or more of these symptoms over a long period of time may indicate that your partner should ask their doctor for a blood test to determine their testosterone levels.
Though, in most of the labs, you do not need to provide a doctor’s order to get a lab test of this hormone. So, make sure you choose a quality laboratory, go for a test, and once you have results out of the ordinary range, do not hesitate to contact your physician.
What Contributes to Low Testosterone Levels?
For some men, their body does not naturally produce enough testosterone, at no fault of their lifestyle decisions.
For other men, the daily lifestyle decisions they make can be to blame for their lower testosterone production levels.
Some of these contributing factors are explored below.
Hypogonadism is a disorder that affects the ability of a man’s testicles to produce normal levels of the testosterone hormone. This disorder can be caused by a few things, such as autoimmune disorders, genetic disorders, and Klinefelter syndrome, or other chronic conditions. Regardless, this disorder is something that requires medical treatment like Testosterone Replacement Therapy.
Chronic Illnesses that are unrelated to hypogonadism can affect the levels of testosterone production, even if they don’t necessarily lead to the condition. So if your partner suffers from another chronic condition and you start to notice they are moodier, have a lower sex drive, or any other symptoms we discuss, it may be worth getting them to take a blood test to see what their testosterone levels are.
Testicular Injuries, such as being hit in the testicles during sports or other physical activities, can affect the testicle’s ability to normally function. And sometimes, the injury doesn’t even have to be severe to create a disruption in the testicles.
Drug and Alcohol Usage are both a lifestyle factor that can affect testosterone production. When consumed in moderation, the effects of this lifestyle choice may not be chronic or lead to low testosterone levels. But if a male drinks heavily over a long period of time, it can lead to the body producing lower amounts of NAD+, which is a coenzyme that supports production of testosterone in the male body, because the ethanol the body metabolizes when drinking alcohol naturally lowers NAD+ levels.
Weight Gain can be a symptom of low testosterone levels, but it is also the leading cause of the condition in men. When men gain high volumes of fat, their estrogen levels also increase. If these estrogen levels are too high, the hormone signals to the brain to lower or stop producing testosterone altogether. It becomes a circular problem where the weight gain makes testosterone levels lower, and the low testerone levels contribute to even more weight gain.
Does Your Husband or Boyfriend Need Testosterone Replacement Therapy?
If you find yourself worrying about your partner’s well-being, or noticing they are suffering from some of the symptoms we discussed above, it may be time for your partner to consider undergoing TRT.
If they have addressed other factors such as their diet, their substance usage, treatment of any other chronic conditions, or if they are diagnosed with hypogonadism, encourage and support your partner to explore the life-changing experience of using TRT to regain their full vitality.
With personalized approaches that allow your partner to choose between TRT injections, patches or gels, pellets, or other viable methods, and with personalized dosages, you can help your partner figure out if TRT is right for them.
Whether or not your partner chooses to undergo TRT to help their condition is a personal choice.
However, it is a viable solution that can treat low testosterone levels and allow your partner to enjoy their life without hindrance.