Hormones play an important role in every process within your body. Hormones tell the body what to do and when to do it, serving as the regulators that keep you healthy and help you function.
The production of many hormones naturally declines with age because the body is finished growing and developing. It produces and sends a minimal amount of hormones necessary for the maintenance of the fully developed body. If the body produces and releases too few hormones or too many hormones at this time, the effects can be noticeable.
Hormone imbalance in men can affect the way they look and feel. If you believe you may be dealing with the negative effects of hormone imbalance, here’s what you need to understand about the condition and how to obtain treatment to resolve your symptoms.
What Are the Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance in Men?
Everyone’s body, regardless of gender, produces the same hormones. Women and men produce hormones like estrogen and testosterone in different amounts. Men need more testosterone, and women need more estrogen.
A hormonal imbalance in men can lead to an improper balance of these hormones, causing men to develop feminine characteristics.
Other symptoms may include:
- Unexpected changes in body weight
- Loss of muscle tone or muscle weakness
- Fatigue, brain fog, or an inability to focus
- Changes in bathroom habits
- Mood changes like depression, irritability, or anxiety
- Joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
- Increased temperature sensitivity
- Changes in hunger and thirst
- Infertility
- Erectile dysfunction
- Hair loss on the scalp or body
- Growth of breast tissue
If you notice any of these symptoms, speak to your doctor. Addressing hormonal imbalance early is most likely to lead to the best treatment outcome.
What Causes Hormone Imbalance in Men?
Many factors can contribute to hormone imbalance in men. In some cases, hormone imbalance is a known side effect of certain medications or medical treatments like chemotherapy. In other cases, hormone imbalance is the result of an underlying condition.
Stress, eating disorders, major illness, and injury recovery can contribute to hormonal imbalance. In many cases, conditions like diabetes, thyroid health conditions, adrenal disorders, and hypogonadism can cause significant hormonal imbalance.
If you’re currently being treated for a condition that is known to contribute to hormone imbalance and you believe you may be experiencing hormone imbalance, speak to your doctor. It’s likely your doctor is familiar with the situation and will be able to provide you with adequate support.
How Is Hormone Imbalance in Men Diagnosed?
If you suspect that you’re experiencing hormone imbalance, you need to speak with your doctor. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask you questions about your symptoms. It helps to keep a journal of your symptoms that you can present to your doctor.
Informing your doctor of the severity and frequency of your symptoms, as well as when you’re most likely to experience those symptoms, can help your doctor understand the nuances of your situation.
While there are at-home hormone level tests, the scope of these tests is extremely limited. The vast majority of these kits aren’t approved by the FDA, and the insights they provide are not accurate. You cannot receive an official diagnosis or begin treatment for hormone imbalance following the use of an at-home kit.
Your doctor will evaluate you for lifestyle factors that can contribute to these symptoms. Sometimes, overeating and a lack of exercise can mimic the symptoms of hormone imbalance. Conditions that inhibit blood flow can cause symptoms like erectile dysfunction, and mental health conditions can cause emotional symptoms.
After ruling out other potential causes for your symptoms and treating them if necessary, your doctor will use blood tests to evaluate your hormone levels. Your doctor may also evaluate your testicular health to ascertain that conditions impacting your testicles aren’t causing issues with testosterone production.
In some cases, biopsies, sperm count tests, thyroid tests, and even MRIs or x-rays may be necessary for your doctor to observe the bigger picture.
Since most hormones are easily detectable in the blood, your blood test results are likely to give your doctor enough information to diagnose you with hormone imbalance if you have a hormone imbalance. After your diagnosis, you can begin hormone therapy.
How Is Hormone Imbalance in Men Treated?
Hormone imbalance in men requires a multidisciplinary approach.
Hormone therapy, especially testosterone therapy, works to restore the body’s levels of testosterone.
Hormone therapy should be used in conjunction with positive lifestyle changes to improve the body’s overall wellness. When the body functions optimally, testosterone therapy will work even better to counteract the side effects and changes you may have experienced as a result of hormone imbalance.
Positive Lifestyle Changes
Hormone imbalance and lead to loss of muscle mass and unwanted weight gain. Beginning hormone replacement therapy can help to mitigate these changes, but it won’t do the work for you.
Switching to a balanced diet with an emphasis on lean protein intake will help you lose unwanted fat and build more muscle. Your diet should be at a caloric deficit. Calculate your body’s caloric needs for your height and weight, and aim to eat 200 to 500 calories below this number to shed unwanted weight.
Working out will help to rebuild muscle mass. You can do simple workouts with resistance bands and weights at home. Working out for a minimum of 20 minutes at least 3 times a week will help you create a steady and sustainable balance towards reaching your fitness goals.
Testosterone will also help your body change its natural composition, making it easier for you to return to health and meet your aesthetic goals.
Testosterone Therapy
Testosterone can be administered via creams, tablets, injections, or pellets inserted under the skin. Creams and tablets generally aren’t as effective as injections or pellets. Injections can be self-administered and are simple. The small pinch and prick sensation is relatively painless.
Your hormone replacement doctor will give you specific instructions regarding when you should use your testosterone, how much you should administer, and how often you should be administering it. As long as you’re following medical advice, testosterone replacement therapy is generally regarded as safe and effective.
Like with any long term medical treatment, you should monitor for side effects and report them to your doctor the moment you notice them. Some side effects will pass with time, but your doctor may change your treatment plan to help you minimize side effects associated with testosterone therapy.
Does Insurance Cover Hormone Imbalance Treatment?
Insurance rarely covers hormone imbalance treatment, especially if the affected individual is an older adult.
Think of hormone therapy as an investment in yourself. Insurance doesn’t cover your gym membership or the cost of your healthy meals. You choose to make these investments to better yourself and remain feeling youthful and vital.
Hormone therapy is the same thing, but from a medical perspective. You’re worth the investment!
Hormones play an important role in every process within your body. Hormones tell the body what to do and when to do it, serving as the regulators that keep you healthy and help you function.
The production of many hormones naturally declines with age because the body is finished growing and developing. It produces and sends a minimal amount of hormones necessary for the maintenance of the fully developed body. If the body produces and releases too few hormones or too many hormones at this time, the effects can be noticeable.
Hormone imbalance in men can affect the way they look and feel. If you believe you may be dealing with the negative effects of hormone imbalance, here’s what you need to understand about the condition and how to obtain treatment to resolve your symptoms.
What Are the Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance in Men?
Everyone’s body, regardless of gender, produces the same hormones. Women and men produce hormones like estrogen and testosterone in different amounts. Men need more testosterone, and women need more estrogen.
A hormonal imbalance in men can lead to an improper balance of these hormones, causing men to develop feminine characteristics.
Other symptoms may include:
- Unexpected changes in body weight
- Loss of muscle tone or muscle weakness
- Fatigue, brain fog, or an inability to focus
- Changes in bathroom habits
- Mood changes like depression, irritability, or anxiety
- Joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
- Increased temperature sensitivity
- Changes in hunger and thirst
- Infertility
- Erectile dysfunction
- Hair loss on the scalp or body
- Growth of breast tissue
If you notice any of these symptoms, speak to your doctor. Addressing hormonal imbalance early is most likely to lead to the best treatment outcome.
What Causes Hormone Imbalance in Men?
Many factors can contribute to hormone imbalance in men. In some cases, hormone imbalance is a known side effect of certain medications or medical treatments like chemotherapy. In other cases, hormone imbalance is the result of an underlying condition.
Stress, eating disorders, major illness, and injury recovery can contribute to hormonal imbalance. In many cases, conditions like diabetes, thyroid health conditions, adrenal disorders, and hypogonadism can cause significant hormonal imbalance.
If you’re currently being treated for a condition that is known to contribute to hormone imbalance and you believe you may be experiencing hormone imbalance, speak to your doctor. It’s likely your doctor is familiar with the situation and will be able to provide you with adequate support.
How Is Hormone Imbalance in Men Diagnosed?
If you suspect that you’re experiencing hormone imbalance, you need to speak with your doctor. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask you questions about your symptoms. It helps to keep a journal of your symptoms that you can present to your doctor.
Informing your doctor of the severity and frequency of your symptoms, as well as when you’re most likely to experience those symptoms, can help your doctor understand the nuances of your situation.
While there are at-home hormone level tests, the scope of these tests is extremely limited. The vast majority of these kits aren’t approved by the FDA, and the insights they provide are not accurate. You cannot receive an official diagnosis or begin treatment for hormone imbalance following the use of an at-home kit.
Your doctor will evaluate you for lifestyle factors that can contribute to these symptoms. Sometimes, overeating and a lack of exercise can mimic the symptoms of hormone imbalance. Conditions that inhibit blood flow can cause symptoms like erectile dysfunction, and mental health conditions can cause emotional symptoms.
After ruling out other potential causes for your symptoms and treating them if necessary, your doctor will use blood tests to evaluate your hormone levels. Your doctor may also evaluate your testicular health to ascertain that conditions impacting your testicles aren’t causing issues with testosterone production.
In some cases, biopsies, sperm count tests, thyroid tests, and even MRIs or x-rays may be necessary for your doctor to observe the bigger picture.
Since most hormones are easily detectable in the blood, your blood test results are likely to give your doctor enough information to diagnose you with hormone imbalance if you have a hormone imbalance. After your diagnosis, you can begin hormone therapy.
How Is Hormone Imbalance in Men Treated?
Hormone imbalance in men requires a multidisciplinary approach.
Hormone therapy, especially testosterone therapy, works to restore the body’s levels of testosterone.
Hormone therapy should be used in conjunction with positive lifestyle changes to improve the body’s overall wellness. When the body functions optimally, testosterone therapy will work even better to counteract the side effects and changes you may have experienced as a result of hormone imbalance.
Positive Lifestyle Changes
Hormone imbalance and lead to loss of muscle mass and unwanted weight gain. Beginning hormone replacement therapy can help to mitigate these changes, but it won’t do the work for you.
Switching to a balanced diet with an emphasis on lean protein intake will help you lose unwanted fat and build more muscle. Your diet should be at a caloric deficit. Calculate your body’s caloric needs for your height and weight, and aim to eat 200 to 500 calories below this number to shed unwanted weight.
Working out will help to rebuild muscle mass. You can do simple workouts with resistance bands and weights at home. Working out for a minimum of 20 minutes at least 3 times a week will help you create a steady and sustainable balance towards reaching your fitness goals.
Testosterone will also help your body change its natural composition, making it easier for you to return to health and meet your aesthetic goals.
Testosterone Therapy
Testosterone can be administered via creams, tablets, injections, or pellets inserted under the skin. Creams and tablets generally aren’t as effective as injections or pellets. Injections can be self-administered and are simple. The small pinch and prick sensation is relatively painless.
Your hormone replacement doctor will give you specific instructions regarding when you should use your testosterone, how much you should administer, and how often you should be administering it. As long as you’re following medical advice, testosterone replacement therapy is generally regarded as safe and effective.
Like with any long term medical treatment, you should monitor for side effects and report them to your doctor the moment you notice them. Some side effects will pass with time, but your doctor may change your treatment plan to help you minimize side effects associated with testosterone therapy.
Does Insurance Cover Hormone Imbalance Treatment?
Insurance rarely covers hormone imbalance treatment, especially if the affected individual is an older adult.
Think of hormone therapy as an investment in yourself. Insurance doesn’t cover your gym membership or the cost of your healthy meals. You choose to make these investments to better yourself and remain feeling youthful and vital.
Hormone therapy is the same thing, but from a medical perspective. You’re worth the investment!
How To Begin Hormone Imbalance Treatment
Elite ERT is composed of a team of telemedical professionals. We simplify the process of obtaining hormone replacement therapy.
After a medical consultation, we’ll arrange necessary tests in your local area. After our doctors review the results, you’ll be prescribed a treatment plan if appropriate. Easy — just as it should be.
Schedule an appointment for a hormone test to begin the process. Rebalance your hormones and reclaim your life.
Sources
Hormones and the Endocrine System | Johns Hopkins Medicine
Do DIY Medical Tests Promise More Than They Can Deliver? | NPR