Despite what you might see on television or read in ads, there are many reasons why it might be perfectly natural for guys to have low testosterone. Similarly there are many ways to optimize your testosterone without taking prescription drugs or even herbal supplements.
First, it is important to understand that the brain controls the level of testosterone based on many different factors. If the body isn’t getting proper resources or there is a constant level of threat around, the body tries to be efficient and keep testosterone levels on the lower side. It saves energy and decreases the chance you’ll get into a conflict just to lose. So how are some of the ways that you can increase testosterone levels naturally?
Get enough sleep.
Your body does not use its resources of proteins, vitamins, and minerals the same when you are sleep deprived as it does when you get plenty of it. It is vital for your body to get enough sleep on a regular basis for your brain to signal testosterone levels to be up. It costs the body a lot of energy to have a higher testosterone level, so failing to recharge with a good night’s sleep day will encourage your body to keep it low.
Get enough zinc.
Zinc is a mineral that is used in many different systems of the body including the immune system, the skin, and also the reproductive system. It has been shown that men deficient in zinc can have a drop in their testosterone by half, and women need it for proper development of eggs and fertility. Since guys lose zinc every time they ejaculate, they need to have higher amounts of zinc in their diets. Men should consider supplementing their diet with zinc every day to keep optimal testosterone levels.
Decrease your stress.
When a person is under constant stress and/or they feel constantly defeated or beaten, their brains will try to decrease their motivation for competition to save them and their bodily resources. Although it’s a depressing thought, chronic stress is interpreted just like this by our brains which signal the body to lower testosterone levels. Take a good look at your day to day stress and ask yourself what affect it is having on your testosterone levels overall.
I have a husband who has no libido,has ED,won’t go get his testosterone checked and it’s been 1 1/2 years since we had sex.He has to take Cialis or another pill like it to get an erection.Most men would run to the dr. to get this fixed in order to have sex…nooooo-not my husband.What do you suggest without dragging him to a counselor becuase I’m pretty sure he will refuse.
Gina – this is a tough situation because in order to do something about it, he has to be motivated. There are many reasons why he may be feeling this way, not just testosterone, so it’s important to check it out. He may have other underlying medical reasons, could be depressed, or other relational issues. If the Cialis works for him, does he like to use it? If you can find a doctor who could think about it comprehensively – check his heart, blood pressure, blood sugar, metabolic issues, questions about depression/anxiety, thyroid levels, encourage daily moderate aerobic exercise, stay away from alcohol, check which prescription medications may be affecting him, ensure he is getting good uninterrupted sleep (not excessive snoring), etc. All of these things have to be checked out. Usually the only way to motivate someone is for them to recognize that they are uncomfortable with the situation and that they want to feel better and have a happier life. Best Wishes.
Dr, do testosterone supplements really work? I ask this because I am on TRT because of hypogonadism due to orchiectomy for noncancerous tumors. In other words, I dont produce testosterone naturally and require TRT to make it for me. My endo prescribed a medium dose for my new medication which is Fortesta. Ihad been on Androgel and Axiron ( separately) in the past. One of the concerns was the danger of elevated hemocrit levels. Yet, I am not sure if Fortesta is really giving me what I need. Am I able to take the supplements in addition to the current TRT?
Eammon – The testosterone that your endocrinologist is prescribing to you has a certain amount of testosterone in it. I would not think that you should have additional testosterone supplementation on top of that, just have the dose adjusted to what you need. What he may prescribe to you is an aromatase inhibitor that prevents the conversion of testosterone into estrogen. This would depend on your estrogen levels in comparison to your testosterone levels. You don’t want to knock out all your estrogen, because it serves to protect your arteries, your bones, etc.
I am a 62 year old women. I’ve been married most of my life and don’t ever remember having an organism although I enjoy sex. The kind of orgasm I’ve had with my husband of 6 years are very intense and I had never encountered this in my life. But recently these orgasms have faded to just feeling good sensations but nothing like the regular intense explosion from the center of my being I had had up unto a couple of months ago. I’ve been to the doctor both my internist and my gynecology physician. Both said it’s just your age.
I don’t think so. My skin and body are not equal to my age I’m younger than I look but if I told you I was 62 most times you would take it at face value . But I’ve seen many ny age who look very old and are sick etc. I’m not. I’m on DHEA supplementation and estro-ring , Vitamin D but no hormones due to past pre cancerous tumor in the breast. No cancerous things for 7 years now. Anything else I can do? Thank you, Bernadette
If you are taking DHEA and using estro-ring, you are on hormones. Hormone levels can affect the intensity of orgasm. Increased blood sugar, lack of properly absorbed B vitamins, and side effects from medications can also affect your nerves and the intensity of orgasm.