Causes of & How to Fix Hormonal Imbalance in Men

The importance of hormonal balance in one's health should not be underestimated. Learn about hormone imbalance in males and how to fix it.

Hormones are substances that regulate metabolic rate, growth, sleep, blood sugar regulation, and reproduction in the human body. The repercussions on the body can be profound when hormone levels are awry even slightly.

Menopause refers to hormonal problems in aging women, but a lesser-known reality is that men can also experience male menopause, commonly known as andropause. Hormones can become imbalanced due to stress, certain illnesses, and other lifestyle variables, in addition to aging. Because of the many different causes, determining when and if a hormone imbalance begins can be difficult.

Do you want to know more about the often-overlooked hormonal imbalance in men? Read more to find the causes and hormone imbalance treatment in guys.

Hormonal Discord in Men

Shifts in a number of hormones, such as insulin, growth hormone, or thyroid hormone, can influence both men and women. Adult males, on the other hand, are far more likely to be impacted by a testosterone imbalance, as testosterone is the predominant sex hormone in men.

Men's reduction in the sex hormone testosterone with age is often milder than what women go through during menopause.

Hormonal Imbalance Causes

Men and women both experience a surge of sex hormones throughout adolescence, followed by a drop in sex hormone levels as they get older. As a result, from middle age or later in life, males may experience a hormonal imbalance with a decrease in testosterone.

Other possible reasons for hormone imbalance in men include:

• Long-term stress

Obesity or being overweight

• Genetic determinants

• A poor diet and/or a lack of physical activity

• Toxins or chemicals exposure

• A side effect of a medical condition or treatment.

• Steroid or drug abuse

During adolescence, both men and women experience a spike of sex hormones, which is followed by a reduction in sex hormone levels as they get older. As a result, guys may experience a hormonal imbalance with a drop in testosterone as they reach middle age or later in life.

Hormone imbalance in men can also be caused by the following factors:

• Long-term anxiety

Obesity, sometimes known as being overweight, is a condition in which a person is

• Determinants of genetics

• A lack of physical activity and/or a bad diet

• Exposure to toxins or chemicals

• A medical problem or treatment that has a side effect.

• Abuse of steroid or other drugs

Hormonal Imbalance Test

A blood test can help determine if hormone levels are too low or high. Winchester Hospital suggests normal testosterone blood ranges for men can range between 250 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). 

If testosterone is imbalanced, further tests can be run to determine if there are any other underlying conditions contributing to low testosterone.

How to Fix Hormonal Imbalance

If blood tests indeed show there is a hormone imbalance, treatment options can help bring it back to normal. Depending on which hormone is imbalanced, severity, individual medical history, and cause for imbalanced hormones will determine what the best treatment options are.

One way to help prevent and/or treat low testosterone is to eat foods that naturally boost testosterone. Increasing exercise can also help naturally boost testosterone. Piedmont Healthcare suggests weight lifting and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) are the best exercises to increase testosterone because they emphasize building muscle and can aid weight loss. If overweight or obese, losing weight can help balance testosterone.

Throughout adulthood, eating a healthy diet that emphasizes food sources of testosterone, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight are all ways to help offset the natural decline of testosterone, and andropause, associated with aging.

If testosterone levels are surprisingly low and/or low in a younger man, hormone therapy may be needed. Under the guidance of a doctor, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can be a way to fix low testosterone. 

However, it is not yet clear if TRT increases the risk of heart disease in men like hormone replacement therapy can in women. Research is still unclear if there is a link between TRT and increased risk for prostate cancer. Therefore, TRT should be discussed with your healthcare team to determine if it is the best treatment option. 

In Summary

Sex hormone imbalances are usually associated with women going through menopause, but men can also experience testosterone imbalance with aging called andropause. Andropause can be more subtle shifts in symptoms than menopause, but it is still important to recognize if testosterone is imbalanced in men.

Other causes of hormonal imbalances in men besides associated with aging include various factors such as chronic stress, unhealthy lifestyle, being overweight/obese, other medical conditions, or a side effect from toxins, chemicals, or drug use.

Treating hormonal imbalances can vary, and there are several options for the somewhat common occurrence of low testosterone. They include eating natural testosterone food sources, exercising, weight loss (if needed), and possibly testosterone replacement therapy.

References:

Andropause: Age-Related Hormone Changes in Men. Winchester Hospital. https://www.winchesterhospital.org/health-library/article?id=45937. 

Hormonal imbalance: Symptoms, Causes, and treatment. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321486#causes. How Can a Man Tell If He Has a Hormonal Imbalance?

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