Hormones are our body’s most underrated helpers. The importance of hormones is often overlooked, but they play an integral role in mood, libido, our immune system and more. When your hormones are imbalanced, the other areas of your life might just follow suit. It is a common misconception that hormone issues are just for women to deal with, often citing menopause as the main suspect. However, hormone imbalances can occur in men at a certain age, too. These changes are called andropause, and they can greatly affect a man’s health and wellbeing. Hormones in Men Men have plenty of important hormones in their bodies, from growth hormones to insulin and more. The heavy hitter is definitely testosterone, which men tend to have a lot more of than women. Testosterone affects reproductive tissues, growth, muscle mass and other areas of the body. When a man’s testosterone levels begin to shift, so can his quality of life, and an average man’s testosterone levels decrease 1-2% each year. Hormone imbalance in men typically occurs in men ages 40-60, and symptoms often include:
- Difficulty getting erections
- Decreased libido
- Lower energy
- Depression
- Loss of muscle mass
- Decrease in body fat