Low Testosterone and Depression

Many of the medical treatments taught in medical school and during residency training are reactive. Surgery or medications are used to treat diseases and conditions that have developed.

Statistics show that medications for depression and mood stabilizers are the most frequently prescribed drugs in this country. Stress is considered ubiquitous in our society. Sometimes nothing is said and people, particularly men, don’t talk about this. It is part of life. Just work your way through it. The Dark Side Of Low T No One’s Talking About: Low Testosterone And Depression

Cognitive function and emotions can improve with optimization of testosterone levels. This is an observation seen frequently even though these conditions are not often considered a symptom of testosterone deficiency. By affecting cognitive function and mood, stress can also be aggravated by suboptimal testosterone levels.

Testosterone in balance with estrogen and progesterone is responsible for restoring a normal mood. This balance applies to women as well as men. Optimal sex hormone levels and balance can encourage a better sleep cycle with other subsequent beneficial consequences. With hormone optimization, most patients experience improved libido and sexual function.

Many patients initiating a hormone optimization program later decrease or discontinue any antidepressants or mood stabilizers. Again, depression is a symptom of suboptimal sex hormone levels. Instead of treating with antidepressants, restoring optimal hormone balance may be the most physiologic approach.

Take this a step further. Cholesterol is used to make sex hormones and vitamin D. If these latter substances are suboptimal then cholesterol levels go up. If they are at optimal levels then cholesterol numbers come down without medication.

Testosterone has a big part in sugar metabolism.

These two conditions are symptoms of suboptimal sex hormone levels. They are usually treated with medications. Cholesterol medication and medications for insulin resistance or type II diabetes may not be necessary with proper hormone balance.

Antidepressants and mood stabilizers are medications to treat the mental and cognitive symptoms related to suboptimal sex hormone levels. Can these also be avoided?

Aging occurs on a premature basis. Compare testosterone levels from a group of sixty-year-old men today with the testosterone levels of a group of 60-year-old men in the 1950's. The group from the 1950's had hormone levels 40% higher. Our environment is doing this to us. This may not happen at the same level for everyone due to personal habits and exposure to toxins. Lifestyle is very important.

Maintaining body composition with low android or abdominal fat is important to maintain proper metabolism. Testosterone is an androgenic or body repair hormone and helps maintain lean muscle mass and improve body composition. There can be an improvement in motivation to do exercise once hormone levels are optimized. There is an increased tendency in men with excess abdominal fatty tissue to metabolize testosterone to estrogen. Abnormal body composition can be the first step leading to a hormone imbalance.

The most significant factor is to optimize and balance the function of the overall human machine. Having blood test numbers reported as good while on medication may be good or bad. Certain lab values may be interpreted that things are under control. Overall health is not normal if optimal metabolism may not be there. Many times the best treatment involves hormone optimization.

The term optimum is key. Patients pro-active with their health, keeping their metabolism at an optimal level, enjoy good results. This can include depression, anxiety, and other mood symptoms.