Testosterone deficiency is a clinical and bio-chemical syndrome characterised by low levels of testosterone and characteristic symptoms and signs.
It is particularly common in Type 2 Diabetics (40% of them) and overweight and obese men.
Few topics arouse more passion than the subject of testosterone therapy in men
“It’s not all about sex!
The battle regarding the need to treat testosterone deficient patients has raged for years. It continues today, with an increasingly aware body of patients trying to obtain treatment from a seemingly unwilling medical community.
Are these men pursuing “boy racer”, “sex machine” status in middle age? The answer is NO!
These are men who are trying to recover a semblance of normality.
Libido tends to become a secondary issue when the balance of one’s mind and body are disturbed.”
The Testosterone Deficient Centre UK
What are the common symptoms?
Surprisingly, the commonest complaint is excessive tiredness followed by depressed mood and “brain fog”. I often hear them say “I have lost my mojo” which will often include sexual dysfunction such as low sex drive and erection difficulties.
Many of these patients are mis-diagnosed as suffering from depression and indeed in my experience, many have been prescribed anti-depressants with no relief of their symptoms. However, sadly many men just suffer in silence thinking their symptoms are just part of getting old or their relevant medical condition e.g. diabetes.
How common is the condition?
Research has found that average testosterone levels have decreased by 20% to what they were 20 years ago. No-one is absolutely sure why this is the case. Rising obesity levels are clearly one factor but many men with this condition are slim, fit and active and it may be that increased soy consumption and pollutants in plastics are also important factors.
It has been estimated that up to 1 in 10 men over the age of 50 have TDS.
Do remember that TDS is a recognised medical condition and SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AN INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCE OF AGEING.
Testosterone plays a number of important roles in men. For example, this hormone influences aspects of our short term health like mood and sex drive, as well as being important to our long term health by helping to maintain strong bones and a healthy body shape.