Low-T And The Invisible Man

The first time I heard the term “Low-T,” I assumed it was the latest incarnation of Heavy D, Ice T, or Jay Z. You know… the new urban rapper with a baritone voice. “-Sup? They call me Low-T. Yo!” I wasn’t even close!

So, when I saw that this month’s topic was “Low-T,” my initial thought was, “How in the world am I going to find a spiritual angle here???” and “I guess only guys will be reading this issue!”  Actually, I hope the ladies will join us this month as we embark on our “mission” to understand low-T and rediscover the “invisible” man.

Hormones on the Run

Before I go any further I would like to emphasize the serious nature of this hormonal decline and how it affects the body, soul and spirit of a man.

For years, we have heard about the devastating effect of menopause and how it can make life unbearable for women during their “change of life” season, usually in their late 40s or 50s.

Menopause is more than just the cessation of a woman’s monthly “period.” It is also a decline in the hormones that are part of what makes them female! So it stands to reason, when estrogen/progesterone levels diminish, they cause a myriad of physical and psychological issues that can make life miserable, cause friction in marriages and tension in family relations.

One of the most painful feelings women encounter during this “change” is that they believe they are less of a women. Some women grow hair under their nose and chin due to the slower decline of testosterone versus estrogen.

I am mentioning menopause in an article about low-T to drive home a point, though it has only received media attention over the last 25 years.

Low-T is indeed a nearly identical prognosis for a male, as menopause is to a woman. In fact, “manopause,” or its medically accepted title andropause, is merely male menopause  with many of the same physical and psychological issues. It is characterized by a decline of testosterone (low-T) in males starting as early as their late 30s.

Manopause Hits Middle-Aged Men

Now that we can see this problem as a natural rite of passage that affects both males and females alike, we can now gain some inroads into some of the strange behavior surrounding the male “mid-life crisis.”

When I was in my 20s, one thing that puzzled me was the 50-something guy with the toupee, protruding belly, Italian horn necklace and a corvette that was hitting on girls that were my own age!

When I turned 50, I went to the doctor for a full exam and comprehensive blood work up. When I got the results, I realized why I had no desire to wear an Italian horn or buy a corvette. Beside a perfect exam, I had… high T! That’s right! I had ZERO decline of testosterone at age 50 and a sympathetic heart for those less fortunate.

Please understand, ladies. Men with low-T feel like less of a man. When a guy’s testosterone level drops, so does the old self-esteem. Low-T, or andropause, is the main reason men: