Testosterone is the hormone that controls libido or sex drive in men. Though there might be a couple of reasons behind reduced libido in men, one of the most basic factors is a drop in your testosterone levels.

Joint Pain Testosterone is the hormone that also gives you agility and strength. It is also the hormone that keeps your bones dense and strong. Joint pains and aches might be a clear sign of reduced testosterone in men. A lot of middle age men find it hard to bend or stoop. This is a clear sign of low testosterone levels in your body. 5. Feeling Tired And Irritated/Depressed Constant fatigue is yet another common effect of low testosterone and so is depression. What remains a cause of concern is that a lot of doctors tend to treat this depression with antidepressants rather than getting to the root of the problem. Low testosterone can make you feel irritated and depressed. You might also experience mood swings. 6. Are Your Erections Less Firm? Though erectile dysfunction is common in men and one of the factors that leads to erectile problems is reduced flow of blood to the genitals, a drop in testosterone levels might also be at play. If you feel your erections are not as firm as they used to be, it is time to try and boost your testosterone levels rather than opt for anti impotence medications that can have a lot of side effects. 

How To Boost Testosterone? There are Vital Test Extreme two basic ways of increasing testosterone in your body: Testosterone Injections - These injections can boost your testosterone levels almost immediately but they can lead to serious side effects over time. Such injections can speed up the growth of prostate cancer and can also lead to blood clotting and liver damage. No wonder, such injections are not recommended. Natural Testosterone Supplements - These are a potent blend of herbal extracts, amino acids and peptides that work together to stimulate the production of testosterone in your body without any side effects. Such supplements work slowly but they are safe and inexpensive too. This is why such supplements are a great option for improving your overall and sexual health. Andropause is the male equivalent of what women experience during menopause. Women experience hormonal changes during menopause and men go through similar changes with their hormone levels, especially testosterone. The decline in testosterone can be gradual or sudden, the typical decline is about 1% a year or more and this can start as early as 35 years old. A blood test is required to check for hormonal imbalances and to determine if testosterone replacement is an option. Common symptoms of Andropause: - Erectile dysfunction / Weak erection - Lack of motivation - Atherosclerosis / Heart disease - Mood swings - Poor memory / Lack of concentration - Osteoporosis - Depression and anxiety - Decreased libido - Decreased sense of well-being - Muscle weakness / Decreased strength - Decreased energy / Fatigue Common treatment for Andropause: The most common treatment for Andropause is bio-identical testosterone. It comes in a variety of forms but the two easiest methods of using it are in the form of an injection or a transdermal cream or gel. The injection form is usually done once or twice a week. 

The cream is usually administered on a daily basis, morning and night. Deciding which form is right for you can be addressed with the help of your doctor. Only bio-identical testosterone is safe and effective in treating Andropause symptoms in men. Synthetic versions are not safe for the liver. We talk a lot about how testosterone helps a man maintain energy, mood, bone strength, sex drive, sexual function, muscle mass and strength but there is more. A new study (presented at The Endocrine Society's 91st Annual Meeting) shows that testosterone lowers a male's risk for developing cardiovascular diseases. This in turn means that a testosterone deficiency, common as men begin to age, is not only linked to decreased libido, but also a number of medical problems including increased chances of developing heart disease, having a stroke and or being diagnosed with diabetes. Another medical problems is metabolic syndrome, a cluster of metabolic risk factors that increase the chances of developing heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, also called a fatty liver, commonly co-occurs with the metabolic syndrome and may aggravate the metabolic problems. To receive a diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome, patients must have three of the following five risk factors: abdominal obesity (a large waist line), low HDL ("good") cholesterol, high triglycerides (fats in the blood), high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Some physicians are reluctant to prescribe testosterone for conditions not related to sexual function but more studies are showing that testosterone has a much wider therapeutic role than just for improving sexual desire and erectile function. 

The study included 122 testosterone-deficient men, ages 36 to 69 years (mean age: 59.5). Results showed that restoring testosterone to normal levels led to major and progressive improvements in many features of the metabolic syndrome over the 2 years of treatment. Specifically, the men's weight, waist line and body mass index (a measure of body fat) continued to decline over the full study period. The other metabolic risk factors also significantly improved during the first year of testosterone treatment. Of the 47 men who met the criteria for a diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome at the beginning of the study, 36 (77 percent) no longer had the diagnosis after 2 years of treatment, the authors reported. Furthermore, liver function significantly improved during the first 12 to 18 months of therapy and stabilized for the remainder of the study period. Treatment also greatly decreased blood levels of C-reactive protein, a measure of inflammation that is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The authors concluded that testosterone therapy in men with testosterone deficiency can largely improve or even remedy the metabolic syndrome, which will most likely decrease their risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Testosterone in Women: Continuing on with our discussion we must not forget about women. Women too have 3 major circulating sex hormones in their blood: estrogen, testosterone and progesterone. Each of these is produced by the ovaries. Estrogen is also made throughout the body but particularly in body fat. 

Testosterone can be made by the adrenal glands and in other parts of the body from hormones (DHEA and DHEAS) that are produced by the adrenal glands. At the time of natural menopause or surgical removal of the ovaries, estrogen and progesterone levels fall precipitously. Testosterone and DHEAS levels however, fall more gradually with increasing age such that a woman in her forties has on average only half of the testosterone and DHEAS circulating in her bloodstream as does a woman in her twenties. After a woman has her ovaries removed by surgery testosterone levels can fall by up to 50 per cent. However testosterone does not change across menopause, although this varies somewhat between women. Testosterone and other related hormones (DHEA and DHEAS) in the body (also known as androgens) have known physiological roles in women. Firstly, estrogen is actually made from testosterone and DHEA, and without the ability of women's bodies to make testosterone they cannot make estrogen. Testosterone and DHEA appear to have direct independent effects in different parts of the body, and some women may experience a variety of physical symptoms when their blood levels fall. Such symptoms may include: - Impaired sexual interest (loss of libido or sexual desire) - Lessened sexual responsiveness - Lessened well-being, mood swings - Loss of energy - Lack of motivation - Lack of strength or endurance Testosterone therapy may be beneficial for some women who have had their ovaries surgically removed or in some who have significant symptoms in the form of loss of libido, fatigue, strength and diminished well-being.