This decline is gradual and of a modest degree, but because many of the changes of aging are similar to those of hypogonadism due to known disease, the decline in testosterone has been postulated to be a cause of these changes of aging.
Some experts believe the hormone may also have a positive impact on how well we age — the Fonda effect — playing a role in keeping your skin looking younger and your body in shape.
Testosterone levels affect the skin much like estrogen. The higher your testosterone, the firmer and tighter your skin appears. In men, low testosterone (low-T) is associated with wrinkles, muscle loss, thinning hair, and weight gain.
Low testosterone levels in males can lead to erectile dysfunction. They can also affect sleep, mood, the size of the testicles, and more. In both males and females, low testosterone can lead to lower bone mass and reduced sex drive.
A shortage of testosterone is associated with a shorter life.
Although some people may feel younger from testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), they may be accelerating aging, disease risk and reducing lifespan.
A man's ability to produce testosterone starts to decline at about 40 years of age, and levels continue to drop 1 – 3% a year thereafter. It is important to note that just because the levels are dropping after 40 doesn't necessarily mean that all men are candidates for therapy.
Treating normal aging with testosterone therapy is not advisable. If you don't have a medical condition that's contributing to your decline in testosterone levels, your doctor might suggest natural ways to boost testosterone, such as losing weight and increasing muscle mass through resistance exercise.
While testosterone definitely plays a role in your sexual function, many men with low levels of testosterone (also referred to as low-T or hypogonadism) can get erections just fine.
The short answer is there isn't a proven link between orgasms and testosterone levels, so we don't know how it affects you in the short term. However, you can take comfort in knowing that masturbating will not negatively affect your testosterone levels—or other aspects of your life—long-term.
The hormone estrogen is responsible for making skin look younger due to the hyaluronic acid it produces. Estrogen not only affects your skin but also your muscle mass, metabolism, and energy levels. Women have more estrogen than men do; men have more testosterone than women do.
Males tend to hold on to a more youthful appearance longer than females. This is because they lose collagen—a protein in skin that keeps it hydrated and elastic—more gradually.
Close Shave
Shaving is a form of physical exfoliation. Men begin shaving around thirteen or fourteen and the years of exfoliation show later in life when they have smooth, clear skin with fewer wrinkles.
Low testosterone can cause visible changes in some men: Smaller, softer testicles. Larger breasts. Thinner muscles (happens slowly over a period of years)
Probably the biggest change that's noticed with low testosterone is your physical appearance. From a young age, your testosterone level dictates things such as voice depth, body hair, and physical composition. These are the things that make you who you are, so it's not hard to notice when these things begin to change.
Testosterone helps you attract women.
This is partially because of the masculine-feminine dynamic. Estrogen gives women their feminine qualities, while testosterone causes more masculine qualities. An estrogenic woman is often attracted to a man with high T levels and vice versa.
“Everybody thinks that Viagra is the panacea for all sexual problems. It's not. If low testosterone is the problem, then Viagra, as well as Levitra or Cialis which are similar treatments, won't be the answer,” said Dr Malcolm Carruthers, lead clinician at the Centre for Men's Health and expert in men's hormonal health.
There's no specific age at which erectile dysfunction (ED) starts. But ED is much more likely after the age of 50. Although you can't change your age, you can take steps to improve your overall physical health and prevent weight gain, heart disease, and diabetes.
Excess weight, hair-loss treatments, and a sedentary lifestyle are among the factors that can lower testosterone levels. If you're concerned about low testosterone levels, take a look at your everyday habits and way of life. They could be contributing to a drop.
Our answer to this is simple: you can stay on testosterone therapy for as long as you feel it is benefiting you. Below, we highlight some of the rationale behind this recommendation, and what makes TRT a safe therapy for use indefinitely.
Ending testosterone replacement therapy may leave you with some side effects, however pairing testosterone with HCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin) may help ease the process.