Imbalance of Hormones in Men
Hormone imbalance in men is more and more becoming a common problem even among younger men. Once upon a time, hormonal imbalance was a problem of aging men. Today, many younger men are complaining of the same symptoms.
Hormone imbalance is like a vicious cycle because it usually results in serious mood swings and depression. And since these mood swings can be the cause of stress, which in turn can lead to low testosterone symptoms even for younger men, the cycle becomes endless until our hormone levels are completely out of range.
So how does hormone imbalance occur in men?
Testosterone is the predominant male sex hormone. It is recognized as the hormone of puberty as it makes muscles for boys and turns them into sexually functional men. However, as we age, our bodies begin to produce less testosterone. The normal range of testosterone is 350 - 1200ng/dl for a man in his 20s. Year by year, however, this level decreases by about 1%. By the time we reach the age of 80, our testosterone levels could have gone down to 25 ng/dl.
Having low testosterone levels wouldn’t have been so much of a problem if our other hormones were kept in balance with it. Unfortunately, as our testosterone levels decline, our estrogen hormones remain at a steady level (Yes - guys have estrogen in their system). When estrogen levels are excessive when compared to testosterone, we begin to experience the symptoms of hormonal imbalance. This condition is known as estrogen dominance.
Estrogen dominance in men is either caused by the excessive production of estrogen or insufficient production of testosterone. Since our environment is filled with estrogen substances (often found in pesticides, plastic, industrial waste products, meat, soap, furniture and carpeting) which can be easily absorbed by the skin, it is not far from likely that our estrogen levels are already very high. These environmental factors that contribute widely to the unusual increase of estrogen is the common cause of hormone imbalance in men.
What are the Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance in men?
Breast Enlargement
Breast enlargement is one of the more noticeable symptoms of hormone imbalance. This occurs simultaneously with weight gained around the waist. Excessive weight around our stomachs can mean our bodies are producing more of an enzyme called aromatase. Aromatase is the enzyme responsible for converting our testosterones into estrogens and too much estrogen can lead to the enlargement of our breasts.
Erectile Dysfunction
Another symptom of our hormone imbalance is erectile dysfunction. Testosterone is one of the hormones that control our libido. When our testosterone levels are too low, erection becomes a challenge and our sexual interests and performance are affected.
Muscle/Bone Loss
Since testosterone is responsible for bone and muscle buildup, a reduction in testosterone production can cause distress to both our muscles and bones.
Men should take note that the most common bone disease that occurs due to hormonal imbalance is osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is mainly characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone structure. It can be a very silent disease, as it doesn’t become apparent until a fracture occurs. It can, however, be effectively reversed when the imbalance is treated.
Loss of lean body and muscle mass usually correlates with very low testosterone levels in our body. Testosterones promote the enlargement of our skeletal muscle cells. The absence or lack of sufficient testosterone in our body can cause our muscles to sag and fat to build up.
Weight Gain
One other common symptom of hormone imbalance is weight gain. When too much estrogen is produced in comparison to testosterone, not only do our breasts become bigger but we also gain weight. Too much fat in the body, on the other hand, can cause our testosterone levels to decline further. This recurring cycle, when not treated early, can lead to obesity. If we don’t take care of our hormone levels, we can expect that in the next couple of months, we wont just have bigger breasts, but much worse, we are definitely going to be overweight.
The next page will take you to a page where the symptoms of low testosterone are discussed in more details.Click here to read about the symptoms of low testosterone in men
