What happens when a single guy in his 20s or 30s has low T? A consultation with Mantality can help, but the following is what to look for and consider.
Your energy level is low, you’re not really that interested in having sex, and fatigue is becoming your middle name. Yet, you’re a single guy in your 30s. Think you have a problem? It could be low testosterone, or low T. The good news: A lot more single men have this problem than you might think, and something can be done about it.
Yes, low T is a normal part of aging and common in elderly men. Low T affects about 40 percent of men over age 45 and 50 percent of men over age 80. But young men can also be affected by low T and more of them are going to the doctor to get checked out.
What Causes Low Testosterone in Young Men?
A young man with low testosterone will need to be examine more carefully than older men. Since age is not the cause, you need to look for common causes, like obesity, drug abuse, or diabetes. There are also fewer common causes, like congenital abnormalities and tumors.
According to the Urology Care Foundation, low T can be found in:
- 40 percent of men with high cholesterol
- 50 percent of men with diabetes
- 50 percent of men with obesity
- 75 percent of men with chronic narcotic abuse
A 2013 study in the journal Clinical Endocrinology shows how obesity can affect testosterone in very young men. In this study, testosterone levels were taken for 50 young men ages 14 to 20 years. Half of the young men were obese, and the other half were a healthy weight. Testosterone levels in the obese young men were 40 to 50 percent lower than in the young men of healthy weight.
Maintaining a Healthy Testosterone Level
Some causes of low T, like age, can’t be avoided. But young men can still do a lot on their own to prevent low T. One of the most common causes of low T is metabolic syndrome, which affects 35 percent of all Americans. It’s a combination of obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides. If you have any of these risks, you need to work with your doctor to get them under control.
Here are five ways you can help avoid low testosterone:
Work off your belly fat. Obesity, especially the type that collects around your belly, is a big risk factor for low T. That means losing weight, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet.
Don’t use drugs or abuse alcohol. Smoking marijuana is a common cause of low testosterone in young men. Using narcotic drugs called opiates also lowers testosterone, as does drinking too much alcohol.
Sleep well. Lack of sleep is a common cause of low T. Anything that interrupts sleep causes testosterone levels to fall. Part of the reason is that testosterone is secreted into the bloodstream at night during sleep.
Watch out for sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition that causes noisy, obstructive breathing during sleep with periods when breathing stops, called apnea.
Don’t smoke. As if smoking isn’t bad enough already, there is evidence that smoking can contribute to erectile dysfunction and lower your sperm count. It also contributes to metabolic syndrome.
Bottom Line on Low T for the Single Guy
Low testosterone in young men is more common than once thought, and it may need to be treated aggressively to restore sexual health and fertility in young men who are affected. Low testosterone can be a serious condition in any young man. If you have symptoms of low testosterone — erectile dysfunction, lack of desire, increased body fat, decreased energy, loss of muscle mass, or depression — give us a call to discuss options ranging from male hormone replacement therapy to creating a healthier lifestyle.