Low Testosterone Male Hypogonadism UNC Mens Health Program

Low Testosterone Low T: Symptoms, Causes, and More

It helps develop sexual characteristics, maintain muscle and bone mass, keep your red blood cell levels up, and give you an overall sense of well-being. Testosterone is the male sex hormone that is made primarily in the testicles. Testosterone hormone levels are important to normal male sexual development and functions. More than 8 percent of men age 50 and older are thought to have Low T. Low T may be more common among men who are overweight or have diabetes.

It is also necessary for energy, bone density, and red blood cell production. Because testosterone plays a vital role in men’s physical, emotional, and sexual health, they may begin experiencing changes in their bodies by their mid-30s. If you’re a man over 40, it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of low testosterone in men so you can take steps to address the issue and improve your overall health and well-being. Prostate cancer patients on testosterone therapy should have their PSA levels monitored on the same schedule as men without testosterone deficiency; however, clinicians may choose to increase the frequency of testing. PSA recurrence in men on testosterone therapy should be evaluated in the same fashion as untreated men.

The first testosterone measurement should be obtained two to four weeks after initial implant to determine if the number of inserted pellets needs to be increased or decreased to achieve the appropriate therapeutic level. Another way to raise your testosterone is through pills that you swallow. Instead they are other kinds of medicine that work well to raise testosterone levels. Low testosterone that causes symptoms usually is treated with testosterone hormone. You can get it in different ways, such as in a shot, through a patch or gel on the skin, or in a tablet you place between your cheek and gum. A blood test called a serum testosterone test is used to determine the level of circulating testosterone in a body. The home sodium test is usually performed in the morning, when T levels are highest.

You take the shots every 2 to 4 weeks, as prescribed by your doctor. You may also be able to get the medicine without injections by using a nasal pump. Your  testosterone levels can swing up and down between doses. If you have low blood levels of testosterone AND symptoms that affect your daily life, your doctor may suggest taking supplemental testosterone. You may want to see a specialist to discuss the risks and possible benefits of treatment. Look for a urologist or an endocrinologist, a doctor who treats hormone problems.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) does have side effects, so this treatment must be monitored closely by your doctor. Acne, an enlarged prostate, breast enlargement, and even a decreased sperm count can all occur during TRT. The first step toward increasing testosterone is to see your doctor.

Your specialist will help you understand if you need treatment, even with normal testosterone levels. Low testosterone (male hypogonadism) is a condition in which your testicles don’t produce enough testosterone. It has several possible causes, including conditions or injuries affecting your testicles, pituitary gland or hypothalamus. When men are done with their efforts to have more biologically related children, I generally recommend that they stop their SERMs/anastrazole/HCG and get a new baseline testosterone level about 4 weeks later. The resulting T levels as well as their symptoms off of the medications can help guide their decision on whether or not to start TRT.

Hypogonadism means diminished functional activity of the gonads—the testicles or the ovaries—that may result in diminished production of sex hormones. Low androgen (e.g., testosterone) levels are referred to as hypoandrogenism and low estrogen (e.g., estradiol) as hypoestrogenism. These are responsible for the observed signs and symptoms in both males and females. If your symptoms and tests verify a diagnosis of low testosterone, you and your doctor may decide that testosterone therapy (TT) is right for you.

Establishing total testosterone thresholds for a diagnosis of testosterone deficiency is challenging considering the heterogeneity that exists in the testosterone deficiency literature. The most accurate testosterone measurements are obtained in the early morning and on more than one occasion, which is not uniform across testosterone trials. Since many of its symptoms can be the result of other health problems, we’ll conduct an in-depth health history, physical exam and blood tests to rule out any other causes of symptoms before testosterone is prescribed. These tests administered and interpreted by a urologist, can help reveal whether any underlying conditions, health issues or lifestyle choices are affecting testosterone production and whether treatment is needed. Primary hypogonadism is present in men whose testicles do not function properly, which prevents them from producing normal levels of testosterone. Depending on the cause of TD, there might be other medications a man can take to raise his testosterone levels. Some examples are aromatase inhibitors (AI), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM).

This is the most common scenario when we find hypogonadism in younger men seeking treatment for infertility issues. In addition to a decrease in sex drive, having trouble getting or maintaining an erection is one of the signs of low testosterone. Testosterone is responsible for sending signals to the brain to produce an erection, so if a man has lower levels of the hormone, the signal may not be strong enough. Erectile dysfunction can be caused by a variety of factors and conditions, so it’s a good idea to consult your urologist to get a proper diagnosis. Testosterone is the male sex hormone that is produced in the testicles. For men experiencing low levels of testosterone, it is common to have a reduced sex drive.