Two weeks ago, we began discussing hormone imbalance. Last week, we discussed hormone imbalance in women. This week, we’re going to give male hormone imbalance a closer examination.
As it is with women, men can also experience natural ebbs and flows of hormonal imbalance during their lifetime. It seems as though no one can get away unscathed and unchanged by the natural progression of time and life. As it stands, puberty and aging are the main culprits of natural imbalances.
That being said, because men have different endocrine organs and cycles than women, they are at risk of developing different hormonal imbalances.
MENopause — Did you know that menopause is a real thing for guys too? After the age of 30, the level of testosterone in a male’s body drops, on average, about 1% every year. That can really mess with a man. Most guys often misinterpret this drop in testosterone as weakness. Ever heard of a “midlife crisis”? It’s usually the byproduct of a man not feeling as strong and virile as he used to be. MENopause. It’s not just for the ladies.
It’s Not Just About Sex — Because testosterone is the main hormone driving the hormonal bus in men, it usually gets blamed for all things sex drive related, but it actually drives a lot more than sex. If testosterone levels are imbalanced, the symptoms can be anything from heart palpitations to hair loss to depression and weight gain to memory loss. It can even increase the risk of heart attack and stroke!
Monthly Cycles and Aggression — Again, not just for the ladies. Men have regular monthly cycles too, although not necessarily as obvious as their female counterparts. If you want to track the monthly cycle, it’s recommended to keep a journal for two or three months recording any emotional changes. Keep in mind that testosterone is usually blamed for aggression and anger in men. Although it may play a part in aggression, research has found that pharmacologically elevated testosterone also increased generosity, cooperation, and honesty, Testosterone doesn’t automatically make a guy “Hulk out” or go all “Rambo” on everyone any time it is elevated.
There’s no shortage of struggles and symptoms when it comes to hormonal imbalance. Along with the general list of symptoms that can affect anyone, take a look at these that are unique to men:
- reduced sex drive
- erectile dysfunction (ED)
- low sperm count
- reduced muscle mass
- reduced body hair growth
And if you’re looking for the causes of hormonal imbalances, take a look at this article. Unfortunately, hormonal imbalance is no respecter of man. It can and does affect anyone at any time, anywhere. But that doesn’t have to mean your quality of life diminishes. With a little tweaking, hormones can be balanced and functioning properly. The Hulk can easily be turned back into mild-mannered Bruce Banner.
If you think you might be experiencing hormone imbalance, set a time to talk with Joyce Gibb
Sources:
https://askjoedimatteo.com/what-is-hormone-imbalance
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-04923-0
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature08711
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature11136
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0046774
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/5702.php
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321486.php