What Causes Hormonal Imbalance in Males

Men, as well as women, can suffer from hormonal imbalances.

When you hear the words “hormonal imbalance” or “being hormonal,” most people think of women. But the truth is men, as well as women, can suffer from hormonal imbalances.

A hormone imbalance occurs when hormones rise above or drop below normal levels in a man’s bloodstream. While there are certain medical conditions that occur from too much of a given hormone, not enough hormones are the far more common problem.

This is particularly true as we get older. As men age, the level of all of their critical hormones drops, in particular testosterone and human growth hormone. The depletion of these and other hormones can cause a hormonal imbalance in men that often results in weakness, fatigue, weight gain, sexual health issues, and a whole host of other health problems.

What Can Cause Hormonal Imbalances in Men?

Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. Hormones trigger or regulate almost all of your vital biological functions. Since there are so many hormones being produced by your glands, and they serve so many different purposes, the causes of hormonal imbalances in men can be quite varied.

Generally speaking, some of the most likely reasons that a male may suffer from a hormone imbalance are:

• Hormone therapies
• Medications
• Cancer or cancer treatments
• Non-cancerous tumors
• Pituitary tumors, injury, or other diseases that impact pituitary function
• Eating disorders
• Stress
• Injury or trauma

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance in Men?

It is normal for a man’s hormone levels to change from time to time. However, long-term hormone imbalance in men, such as what can occur from age-related hormone depletion, can cause a number of problems, not the least of which is fatigue and lack of energy.

In addition to fatigue, the signs of a hormone imbalance in men include:

• Sudden, unexplained weight loss
• ED or other sexual health issues
• Excessive sweating
• Difficulty sleeping and headaches
• Changes in heat and cold sensitivity
• Dry skin or skin rashes
• Changes in heart rate and blood pressure
• Irritability, anxiety, depression
• Increased thirst and frequent urination
• Brittle or weak bones

How Are Hormone Imbalances Diagnosed?

The only way to diagnose hormone imbalance in men is to have the hormone levels in your blood tested. After a complete physical exam so that your doctor can get a handle on your symptoms, he or she will then order the specific hormone blood tests or “panels” that he or she suspects may be at the root of your problems.

Myths and Misunderstandings About Hormonal Imbalance in Men

The number one myth about hormonal imbalances in men is that they only occur in women! Nothing could be further from the truth! True, there are “male” and “female” hormones, but all hormones play a critical role in the health of both sexes. All hormones and not just sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen must work together for optimal health and wellness. An imbalance in any hormone can through off the delicate equilibrium – and this can and does happen in me as well as women.

Other myths and misunderstandings about hormone imbalances include:

• Too much testosterone leads to aggression – There is a common myth that if your body produces too much testosterone, it can lead to anger and aggression. However, this is simply not true and is an archaic notion carried over from now discredited reports of criminal acts perpetrated by men with allegedly high testosterone levels from many decades ago. Scientists now know that such aggressive or abhorrent behavior is more likely caused by other genetic and societal factors than anything to do with testosterone.
• Hormone imbalance is normal – There is a common and dangerous misconception that hormonal imbalances are “normal,” and you just have to “live with it.” While common, hormone imbalance is not a regular part of life and should not be accepted as such. In fact, these imbalances are an important warning sign that should not be ignored.
• Hormonal Imbalances can only be treated with medication – This is not true. While severe cases of hormone imbalance where you are diagnosed with a serious hormone deficiency of one or more critical hormones may require medical treatment, there are ways to naturally boost your hormones and help maintain a more normal balance.

How Are Hormone Imbalances in Men Treated?

Because there are so many different hormones that could be involved in causing your symptoms of hormonal imbalance, there is not one treatment.

Most of the time, hormonal imbalance in men is caused by not enough of a particular hormone. In such cases, the best treatment is hormone replacement therapy.

Your hormone replacement therapy will target the hormones that your blood test reveals to be lower than normal. In most men presenting with the signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance, low testosterone and growth hormone deficiency are the root causes of the problem. In such cases, you may be prescribed testosterone injections, HGH injections, or both.

Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy

Growth hormone replacement therapy is the most effective treatment for hormonal imbalances in men that have been found to be caused by growth hormone deficiency. The benefits of HGH replacement therapy for men with growth hormone deficiencies are many.

• Growth hormone therapy improves fat metabolism and results in more lean muscle and less fat
• HGH therapy increases energy and vitality
• HGH therapy improves skin health, lessens the appearance of lines and wrinkles
• HGH replacement improves sleep
• HGH replacement increases cognitive functioning
• HGH injections help improve heart health and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease
• HGH injections can boost your immune system
• HGH therapy can improve mood
• Growth hormone therapy may improve sexual function

Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Most hormonal imbalances in men are the result of age-related testosterone decline. Your testosterone level drops as you age. Most men between the ages of 35 and 65 are suffering from low testosterone to some degree. The many life-changing benefits of testosterone therapy for men with low testosterone have been well documented. As men grow older, declining levels of testosterone are inevitable. However, testosterone therapy can give you back what time and nature take away.

Testosterone therapy is designed to make you feel younger, stronger, and improve your confidence, so you can continue to do all the things you enjoy most in life.

Are There Ways to Naturally Prevent Hormone Imbalance in Men?

Yes, there are ways that men can boost and maintain their levels of testosterone and HGH and thereby help to prevent the symptoms of hormone imbalance. Here are five great ways to naturally boost the level of your critical hormones.

1. Exercise and weight training – One of the best ways to increase your level of testosterone is to lose weight and pack on some lean muscle mass. To do this, there are certain exercises, such as weight training and High-Intensity Interval Training, that are known to increase the production of testosterone. Such exercises have the added benefit of also increasing human growth hormone (HGH) production.
2. Testosterone-boosting foods – We know that there are certain foods that can naturally increase testosterone. Consider adding these foods to your diet: seafood and fish, cruciferous vegetables, coconut, avocados, and other sources of “good” fats, whey proteins, and berries.
3. Get a night’s good sleep – Testosterone and growth hormone are produced most efficiently during deep sleep, so if you have poor sleep habits, you will be lowering your body’s ability to produce these critical hormones.
4. Reduce sugar intake – Again, reducing your intake of sugar is a good idea for weight loss, but it also helps your hormones to remain in balance. Reducing your intake of processed sugars will reduce testosterone-killing hormones in your blood, such as cortisol, while at the same time will boost your production of testosterone and HGH.
5. Reduce alcohol consumption – Drinking has a negative impact on testosterone levels as well as HGH levels. Recent studies have found that even moderate drinking can significantly lower testosterone. So, skip the happy hours, and try to limit your drinking to no more than one glass of wine or beer a day.