Most of us will have heard of testosterone. But our impression of what it is, and what it’s needed for in the body, may not always be completely accurate.
We’re taking a look at some of the most common misunderstandings about testosterone to clear up the confusion.
Only older men have low testosterone
While it can be natural for your body to produce less testosterone as you get older, it’s not the only factor that can cause low testosterone. In reality, you can experience a dip in this hormone at any age, for a variety of reasons, including:
- Dehydration
- Excessive alcohol or drug consumption
- Stress
- Poor diet
- Poor sleep
- Smoking
Low testosterone can also be caused by carrying too much weight or taking medications that affect hormone levels.
Low testosterone is just what happens when you age
It’s a common misconception that low testosterone is an inevitable part of getting older. And this often keeps men from seeking care. A certain decline is normal, but for some, levels drop below a healthy level and that should be looked into.
Truly low testosterone can cause several health problems, such as fatigue, loss of muscle mass and decreased exercise tolerance, as well as a low libido and erectile disfunction, difficulty concentrating and, in some cases, depression.
Low testosterone only affects sex drive
While low sex drive is of the signs of low testosterone, there are plenty of other issues which can be caused by this deficiency, as mentioned above. Some signs of low testosterone can also be caused by other health conditions, so it’s important if you’re checking your testosterone levels, to look holistically and consider other risk factors.
Testosterone leads to aggression
It’s a common stereotype that the higher the levels of testosterone, the more aggressive a person will be. But links between testosterone and physical aggression in humans are unclear.
Placebo-controlled trials have shown that even the highest levels of testosterone don’t increase aggression in men. Taking it a step further, an analysis of multiple studies found that there’s no link between aggression and testosterone.
Getting your testosterone levels tested
If you’re concerned about your testosterone levels, you may want to consider getting tested for confirmation. Armed with this information, you can make more informed decisions in order to optimise your health and wellbeing.
Private testosterone testing in the comfort of your own home
With GP waiting times increasing in many practices, private blood testing is becoming a common alternative for many people looking to take control of their health and wellbeing.
At Blue Horizon we offer a small range of Testosterone Testing profiles to help you understand your testosterone levels and the impact this could be having on your overall health.
Quick and convenient home tests
This test is available as a finger prick or vacutainer sample collection option. You can also choose to visit a BMI Hospital or have a nurse home visit.
If you choose to collect the sample yourself, your home-to-laboratory kit contains everything you need to take a blood sample in the comfort of your own home, at a time to suit you, and sent it back to us for testing.
Clear, accurate results
The time it takes to receive your results will depend on the type of test you have chosen. When they are ready, your results will be sent directly to you, via email, within the time specified. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of your results through the post, that can be arranged for you.
You can also choose the option of reported or unreported results. Reported results include information and comment from our GP which you may find helpful to discuss with your own consultant, or for your records.
