When Simon fell ill with Covid in March 2020, he had the usual symptoms of a coughing fit and a sore throat, but he got over it fairly quickly. However, he experienced persistent symptoms for “the best part of two years” that made him very tired, as well as a mental fog that made it difficult for him to focus on work.
After another bout of the virus in September last year, a 51-year-old man was diagnosed with a lung disease that has affected about 2.1 million people in the UK in some form over the past month – that’s one in 30 people in the population.
On a whim, Simon, who asked to keep his full name a secret, had a private test to check his testosterone levels and was shocked to find it was low and was diagnosed with a testosterone deficiency.
Low testosterone levels in men can lead to lack of energy and strength, decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, poor concentration, depression and increased body fat, as well as serious long-term health problems.
“I have more vitality”
Hypogonadism, the cause of low testosterone levels, is sometimes present from birth but can sometimes develop later in life, especially in men with obesity or type 2 diabetes, which is late hypogonadism and can lead to what is called menopausal symptoms in men. .
The NHS says this is an unusual and specific condition that is not a normal part of aging. While testosterone levels decline with age in men, the decline by age 30 to 40 is about 1 percent per year and is unlikely to cause problems on its own.
Lifestyle factors or mental health issues can also be responsible for many of the symptoms associated with hypogonadism, the NHS notes.
However, a 2008 US study found that testosterone deficiency can affect up to 40 percent of men over 45.
“I got out of breath very quickly and had a hard time walking very far,” Simon said. I. “Walking the dog a mile would tire me out.”
There were other mysterious illnesses as well. Simon was puzzled as to why he had put on weight—he weighed about ten pounds—even though his food intake had not increased. He tried to keep fit by boxing and going to the gym regularly.
He was tormented by insomnia, which, combined with problems with the bedroom, led to depression. “I spent hours trying to sleep and sometimes I missed the night completely. I couldn’t lose weight. I went on a strict diet, wrote down everything I ate, and lost only half a kilogram in a month. I thought, “Am I just getting old?” I got into a vicious circle.”
Simon from Norfolk, who started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) last October, is already feeling a significant change in himself. “I have more energy and I am noticeably stronger,” he said. “I can lift heavier weights in the gym. I have more vitality. Now I walk well and do not get tired.
“I also notice that I shave more and my sex life is much better.
“I’m still struggling with weight loss, but I’ve been told that TRT will likely take me longer.”
He still suffers from sleep problems, but found it to be due to his drinking and became a teetotaler as a result.
risk of premature death
Testosterone deficiency can affect more than just a man’s sex life, increasing the risk of infertility, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and decreased bone mineral density. premature death of older men.
In addition, men diagnosed with Covid-19 and low testosterone levels are more likely to get seriously ill and be hospitalized than men with normal testosterone levels, according to a study by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis University School of Hormone Levels of Medicine.
Simon says he struggled to get help through the NHS and his GP and endocrinologist were reluctant to treat him with TRT. They wanted him to change his lifestyle first, which he says he has already tried. So he paid for a private consultation with a testosterone deficiency specialist who gave him an injectable TRT that he could get through the NHS.
TRT comes with several risks, including worsening sleep apnea, acne, benign prostate growth, breast enlargement, reduced sperm production, and overproduction of red blood cells, all of which contribute to an increased risk of blood clots, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Professor Geoffrey Hackett, senior medical advisor at Ted’s Health and board certified urologist and sexologist at Spire Hospital, where Simon sought advice, says testosterone deficiency awareness and patient support remain low.
“There is a lot of information about menopause in women with advocates like Davina McCall, but not the same public awareness of testosterone deficiency in men,” he said. “This can be devastating to men’s personal and professional lives, increasing the risk of premature death, but thousands of men are not getting the support they need.
“Men with low testosterone levels are three times more likely to develop diabetes. Men who take chronic painkillers are also at risk, as are those who are overweight.
“An important question doctors don’t ask patients, perhaps out of embarrassment, is whether they get erections in the morning, which is an important sign of testosterone deficiency. We must overcome this.
“Of course, lifestyle changes are important, but often patients are told to change their lifestyle, but if men are lethargic, overweight, or have erectile dysfunction, their marriage may be on the line and they may become depressed if they are sent away without treatment. “. , there’s a good chance they don’t feel better.”
What should be the level of testosterone in men?
Simon found that his testosterone level is 6.5 nmol/L (nanomoles per liter).
Guidelines from the British Society for Sexual Medicine, released in 2017, suggest that levels between 8 and 12 nmol/L may require a trial TRT.
However, they also say, “Guidelines can never replace clinical judgment in deciding whether to treat an individual patient, but help make informed decisions and take into account personal values and preferences, as well as individual circumstances.”
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Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.