How Can You Tell if Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Working?

Key Signs Testosterone Treatment Is Working

While every man’s experience is unique, there are some general signs to look for while you complete hormone replacement therapy. If you notice any of these benefits in your daily life, this means your testosterone levels are increasing and your quality of life is improving alongside your hormone health.

1. Your energy levels are higher.

Testosterone and energy levels are closely connected. Men with low testosterone often struggle with persistent feelings of tiredness and fatigue. If you have a testosterone deficiency, you may feel lethargic even after sleeping for seven to eight hours. It’s also common to lose motivation to exercise when your hormone levels are lower than usual. Reduced energy can make it difficult to get through the work day or do all the activities you enjoy.

The key is to be aware of what’s normal and abnormal for you in terms of your physical activity levels. Ultimately, this will allow you to properly address your hormone deficiency. If you can’t help but notice that you barely get through your daily workout or struggle to get up in the morning, don’t ignore these red flags. Talk to your doctor to determine whether low T is behind your lack of energy and whether hormone treatment is right for you.

With regular hormone therapy sessions, you will likely notice a spike in your energy levels. Although this process doesn’t take place overnight, you will gradually begin to feel more lively as time goes by. This is because testosterone plays a key role in promoting healthy levels of energy and vitality. As long as you keep up your hormone therapy sessions, you will begin to feel like your normal self again and make the most of every day.

2. You feel happier and more upbeat in your day-to-day life.

Although it doesn’t receive as much attention as other symptoms, the emotional toll of a testosterone deficiency can adversely affect men just as much as the physical symptoms. Your hormones directly influence your mood and emotions, which means any serious changes in your testosterone levels can impact the way you feel on a daily basis. You might find yourself feeling down more often than usual, or you may even struggle with heightened stress or anxiety.

The way different men experience mood changes can also vary significantly. Some oscillate between various types of moods, while others remain locked into a single emotional state for a prolonged period of time. The latter is commonly seen with depression, which can take hold of a person for weeks, months or even years at a time. Other common psychological effects of low testosterone include irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating and memory problems.

Fortunately, hormone replacement therapy is designed to target these specific issues. Regardless of how low T is impacting your emotional well-being, taking steps to raise your testosterone levels can lead to a meaningful difference in your mental health. By being proactive about improving your hormone health, you can combat the emotional effects of a testosterone deficiency and benefit from a more positive mood in your everyday life.

3. You’re sleeping better at night.

A little-known fact about testosterone is it can influence your sleep quality. This ties in to your energy levels, which are also directly affected by testosterone. If you struggle with low energy and fatigue even after getting a full eight hours of sleep, you might spend more time sleeping in an effort to boost your energy. This can cause you to wake up in the morning feeling groggy and sluggish as a result of sleeping too much.

On the other hand, some men have the opposite problem. Testosterone can lead to insomnia in certain cases. If you routinely have trouble falling asleep at night, this may be a sign of a testosterone deficiency. Similarly, you might find yourself waking up in the middle of the night on a regular basis and struggling to fall back asleep. This can become a frustrating cycle that interferes with your normal routine during waking hours.

Studies have also linked low testosterone to an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is a chronic sleep condition characterized by irregular breathing during sleep as a result of blocked airways. This form of sleep apnea tends to cause daytime sleepiness and difficulty concentrating, which can harm work performance and other aspects of your daily life.

4. You’re livelier in the bedroom.

One of the most common symptoms of low testosterone in men is a reduced sex drive. Regulating sex drive and performance is one of the main functions of testosterone, which is why low libido is often the first symptom men notice. If you find that you’re often not in the mood, even when your partner is, you might have an underlying hormone deficiency to blame.

That said, it’s worth noting that a drop in libido isn’t necessarily indicative of low testosterone. It’s common for your sex drive to decline as you age. In addition, some men may experience a lower sex drive as a result of a certain illness, injury or a type of medication that they’ve begun to take. In most cases, though, a hormone deficiency will result in a more sudden and severe decrease in libido.

Through testosterone replacement therapy, you can enhance your body’s ability to properly regulate sex drive and performance. Not only will this boost your confidence in the bedroom, but it’ll also play a key role in creating a more rewarding sexual relationship between you and your partner.

5. You look—and feel—physically stronger.

One of the main roles of testosterone is enhancing strength and muscle mass. If your hormone levels are lower than they should be, you will likely notice a difference in the appearance of your muscles. This difference may be a small change that you hardly notice, or it can be a more pronounced reduction in muscle size. The extent of muscle shrinkage mainly depends on how severe your testosterone deficiency is.

In addition to developing muscle mass, testosterone helps to produce and strengthen bone. Low levels of this hormone can therefore impact your bone volume as well. Weakened bones may increase your risk of osteoporosis, a medical condition characterized by a decline in bone strength and mass, leading to weak and brittle bones. Although osteoporosis is chiefly associated with women, this condition can also impact men with low testosterone.

Keep in mind lower muscle mass does not necessarily impact the strength of your muscles. There also isn’t any evidence suggesting a decrease in muscle size affects the function of your muscles. However, if this symptom has become noticeable, you might want to look into hormone replacement therapy to restore your bones and muscles to their normal condition and boost your confidence.

6. You’re not losing hair at such a rapid rate anymore.

Hair growth is another important function that is largely dependent on testosterone. In men with normal testosterone levels, balding occurs as a natural part of the aging process. This happens as a result of the decline in testosterone that accompanies aging. Additionally, the age at which men begin to lose their hair is at least partially determined by genetics.

However, if you’re losing hair quickly and at a higher volume than what’s normal for your age, this is a telltale sign of a testosterone deficiency. In addition to bald spots on your head, you may notice a loss of facial or body hair. This sudden hair loss is a common sign that you’re struggling with low T. Before you address your hormone levels, though, talk to your doctor to rule out any other medical conditions that may be causing your hair loss.

If you’re approved to begin hormone replacement therapy, you’ll notice that your treatment sessions help stall the process of hair loss. Not only will you stop losing hair at such a rapid rate, but you might even notice some of it starting to grow back. However, everyone’s experience is unique, and the specific results you see will depend on your genetic makeup as well as the severity of your hormone deficiency.

7. You have an easier time getting (and maintaining) an erection.

A change in libido isn’t the only sexual effect of low testosterone. When your body lacks adequate testosterone, it can also reduce your ability to achieve and maintain an erection. Testosterone sends signals to your brain that help it produce nitric oxide, a molecule that triggers an erection.

Without sufficient levels of testosterone, your body is unable to produce the nitric oxide that is necessary to create an erection. This is a condition known as erectile dysfunction. Not only can this condition impact your ability to achieve and maintain an erection, but it may also prevent you from experiencing spontaneous erections.

Be careful not to confuse low testosterone with another medical condition, however. Erectile dysfunction can also be caused by a host of other health problems, including diabetes, high cholesterol, thyroid issues, stress, depression and high blood pressure. If you’ve been diagnosed with low T and choose to begin hormone replacement therapy, you will gradually notice an improvement in your sexual health, which can have many positive effects on your life overall.