Hormonal imbalances are often associated with women during menopause. However, men can also experience hormonal imbalances, especially in older age.
In this article, we’ll discuss the key signs of a hormonal imbalance that men should keep an eye out for.
Understanding Hormonal Imbalances
Your body’s endocrine glands produce chemicals known as hormones. These hormones regulate a variety of bodily processes, including your metabolism, sleep cycles, sexual function, heart rate, mood, body temperature, and growth.
When someone has a hormonal imbalance, it means that the body produces either too much or not enough crucial hormones. A small hormonal fluctuation likely won’t have detrimental effects, but a serious imbalance can have a significant impact on your health.
Men can experience a few different types of hormonal imbalances, including:
- Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone
- Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone
- Adrenal fatigue occurs when the body has low cortisol levels, often due to prolonged exposure to stress
- Andropause or “male menopause”, occurs when the body’s testosterone levels drop with age
Signs of a Hormonal Imbalance in Men
Possible signs of a male hormonal imbalance include:
- Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia is a condition that occurs when the breast tissue becomes enlarged. Though it can result from factors including age and diet, low testosterone or high estrogen in men can lead to gynecomastia.
- Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction, or ED, refers to difficulty having or maintaining an erection. It can be caused by hormonal imbalances.
- Low sex drive
Low sex drive can also result from low testosterone or high estrogen in men and may cause problems in relationships.
- Mood fluctuations
In men, low testosterone can cause moodiness, irritability, anxiety, and depression.
- Lost muscle tissue
Testosterone helps men develop and maintain muscle tissue. So, men with low testosterone may experience lost muscle mass.
At A Place For Wellness, we offer hormone replacement therapy with BioTE. If you’re suffering from symptoms of a hormonal imbalance, contact us today to schedule a consultation!