Hypogonadism, also known as “low testosterone,” affects an estimated 4 to 5 million men in the US alone. However, it’s more prevalent in older males, especially those already in their 60s. As many as six in 10 men within this age range have “low T” levels.
Having low T levels is only one form of male hormonal imbalance, though. After all, the human body is home to more than 50 kinds of hormones. Too little or too much of any of these can lead to various hormone imbalance signs.
Male Hormonal Imbalance
To that end, we created this guide listing some of the most common signs of hormonal imbalance in men. Read on to discover what they are, and be sure to visit your doctor if you experience any of them.
“Not Tonight” Becomes Every Night
A thyroid disorder or hormonal imbalance can result in a decreased sexual drive. For example, if your thyroid doesn’t produce enough testosterone, your libido drops, too. Hypothyroidism, which affects about 4.6% of people in the US aged 12 years and older, may also be to blame.
You’ve Become Increasingly Forgetful
Sex hormones and the stress hormone cortisol play roles in cognitive functions. As such, hormonal imbalance in men (and women) can lead to cognitive issues. These include memory problems as well as difficulty in concentrating.
You’re Losing a Lot of Hair
Androgenetic alopecia hair loss affects up to 50 million men in the US alone. Recent studies found that dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a type of androgen, causes this condition. High levels of DHT appears to shrink hair follicles, which leads to the premature death and fall of hair.
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You’ve Lost Muscle Mass
Loss of muscle mass is another sign of hormone imbalance in adult males. This is especially true if your body doesn’t produce enough testosterone. After all, this hormone plays a crucial role in building and maintaining muscle mass.
Fortunately, Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) seem to help counter this loss. They appear to do so by boosting the body’s production of testosterone. You can click here for more details on how SARMs work.
Increased Urge to Urinate at Night
Do you find yourself making more frequent trips to the bathroom at night? If so, a hormonal imbalance of the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) may be behind this issue. ADH plays a role in how much urine the kidneys excrete.
Normal ADH levels allow the body to release smaller amounts of urine. It’s also normal for the body to have higher levels of ADH at night.
So, if you have too little ADH in your system, this can lead to your body producing more urine at night.
Unexplainable Hunger or Loss of Appetite
Ghrelin and leptin are female and male hormones that regulate hunger and appetite. Ghrelin stimulates hunger, while leptin restricts it.
If your body produces too much ghrelin, you may feel hungry all the time. This may raise your risks of overeating, which can ultimately result in obesity.
The exact opposite happens if you have too much leptin. In this case, you can be at risk of anorexia. Anorexia is the deadliest psychiatric disorder, raising mortality risk by six times.
Watch Out for These Signs of Male Hormonal Imbalance
While most cases of male hormonal imbalance are due to aging, this doesn’t mean you should just live with it. There are various treatments available, such as hormone replacement therapy.
What’s vital is that you pay attention to these hormonal imbalance signs. If you experience one or more of them, visit an endocrinologist as soon as possible.
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