Previous part of the material If more and more often after eating, you feel the urge to lie down on the sofa in front of the TV with a newspaper in hand, rather than playing sports or meeting friends, this may be a sign of a lowered hormone level. Androgen hormone deficiency reduces muscle mass and strength, can lead to pain in the lower back or joints, impaired urination (weak stream of urine, frequent urination and night urges), enlargement of the mammary glands. With a low level of testosterone, the effect of exercise and sports on muscle mass is almost non-existent. Men who are overweight and have low testosterone have a much harder time losing weight, even with regular physical activity. The reason is that it is testosterone that helps to quickly burn fat and regulate weight. In addition to these problems, there are also difficulties of an intimate nature, reduced sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, and in cases with a very low level of testosterone – and reproductive problems. What can be done? If the waist circumference is 94 cm, serious measures should be taken. Any excess of this circumference means abdominal obesity – excessive deposition of fatty tissue in the abdominal area. The first step is well known – you need to change your eating habits to prevent further weight gain. Doctors do not recommend following strict diets, as well as imposing dietary regimes without prior consultation with a specialist, as unreasonable restrictions can lead to stress on the body . This has a double negative effect – after its termination, the pounds return again. Consult a nutritionist to prepare a suitable nutritional regimen based on your general health, eating and exercise habits, as well as your blood testosterone level. Blood for testosterone testing is taken in the morning between 7 and 10 am. There is no norm for the lower limit of the hormone level. It is assumed that a total testosterone level above 30 nmol/l does not require hormone replacement therapy. Such therapy is applied at a testosterone level below 8 nmol/l. If the hormone level is between these values ​​(between 8 and 12 nmol/l), the patient’s condition should be monitored through regular blood tests. In replacement therapy, preparations containing natural hormone are used. Preparations are available in the form of both intramuscular and subcutaneous injections, as well as in the form of tablets and patches. The choice of the most suitable preparation is individual and is made by a specialist.