A recent British study found that 26% of males they surveyed said they “experienced monthly PMS like a woman”, which is a result of Low T.
Of those 26%, “56 percent said they experienced irritability, 51 percent experienced fatigue, 47 percent said they had increased cravings, and 43 percent said they were easily upset.” Believe it or not, 5% even said they experienced “menstrual cramps.”
What is going on with these men? Is it all in their heads, or is something else at work here? With the possible exception of that last 5% — what these men are experiencing is likely “irritable male syndrome” and it is a very real condition that many men deal with.
Irritable male syndrome or “IMS” was first coined by Dr. Gerald Lincoln of Scotland, who was studying the changes in behavior of sheep due to “season changes in testosterone levels.”
Later researchers found that testosterone levels also fluctuated in human males in cyclical patterns which can account for “PMS-like symptoms.”
How Do Low T Levels Affect You?
Unlike women, men do not go through a specific monthly hormonal cycle. But testosterone levels rise and fall, even throughout the course of a single day. When a man is on the “down” side, of these fluctuations, Low T can and does cause mood changes, and many other similar symptoms to PMS.
When a man is over 35 and testosterone levels drop continuously, these symptoms can be worse and longer lasting.
Because of this, researchers into IMS believe that many of the behaviors that we typically think of in men “going through mid-life crisis” – irritability, anxiety, depression – are actually a manifestation of low testosterone and IMS.
This recognition that both men and women go through hormonal changes throughout their lives, which affect their physical and emotional well-being, has led many doctors to understand how men, as well as women, can benefit from hormone therapies.
Testosterone Therapy for Low T
As one of my patients experiencing IMS told me, “little things, that used to roll off of my back, now just made me furious, like someone taking too long to write a check on line in front of me…”
If you are a man, and are between the ages of 35-55, and you find yourself feeling irritable, angry, depressed or anxious, your hormone levels may be trying to tell you something.
In addition to the mood changes typical of IMS, if you are over 40 and are experiencing any of these other signs, it is a good idea for you to have your testosterone levels evaluated.
Loss of libido or decreased sex drive- Sexual performance issues such as erectile dysfunction
- A loss of vitality
- Weight gain, in particular belly fat
- Lack of energy
- Reduced muscle mass
- Depression, anxiety and/or mood swings
Loss of libido or decreased sex driveIf you are experiencing any of the above, you may be a candidate for hormone therapy.
Testosterone therapy can get you back on a more even emotional keel, and can also improve your strength, stamina, sex life, and overall health!
However the only way to receive testosterone therapy is with a legitimate doctor’s prescription, and the only way to know if you need testosterone therapy is to have your levels evaluated by a skilled professional.
Once your lab work is done, if testosterone therapy is indicated, there are many delivery options available. One is sure to fit your needs and lifestyle.
