Low Testosterone: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Low Testosterone Low-T Symptoms, Treatment

A diminishing sex drive occurs naturally with age, but when the cause is low testosterone, a male will notice a significant decrease in the desire for sex. In many women, the ovaries continue to produce hormones like testosterone. Some women may also be deficient in enzymes that process DHEA and DHEA-S into testosterone. For congenital hypogonadism, testosterone replacement therapy often helps prevent problems related to delayed puberty.

Testosterone comes in several forms, including shots, gels, patches, and tablets you place on your gums. Injections are the least expensive option, but they can testosterone make you horny be painful. You take the shots every 2 to 4 weeks, as prescribed by your doctor.

This medicine has both estrogen as well as testosterone in it. However, the testosterone form is a synthetic one and may not be as effective in treating low testosterone. LOH and low testosterone are more common in men who have Type 2 diabetes, overweight and/or obesity. Causes of primary and secondary hypogonadism are also divided into either congenital (at birth) or acquired (developed later in childhood or adulthood). Even if you don’t have sleep apnea, low testosterone can still contribute to a decrease in the hours of sleep. If you do not notice any change in symptoms after treatment for 3 months, it is less likely that TRT treatment will benefit you.

While the causes and effects of low testosterone aren’t completely known, your healthcare provider can run tests to help figure out what’s causing your symptoms. People who’ve had their ovaries removed (oophorectomy) will also have low testosterone levels because their ovaries are responsible for about half of all testosterone production. Testosterone is a type of androgen hormone (or sex hormone) in your body. Hormones are chemical messengers that tell your body how to work and what to do. Everyone makes testosterone, but males make the most testosterone.

As a man ages, the amount of testosterone produced in his body gradually drops. This natural decline starts after age 30 and continues at a rate of about 1% per year throughout his life. Innovative, expert urology care at the Desai Sethi Urology Institute. Our team of urology experts delivers advanced care for all urologic conditions.

However, it’s important to note that TRT should not be used for teenage males with typical testosterone levels to enhance puberty or athletic performance. Therefore, first-line management of men with NGI should include an optimisation of their other medical comorbidities, and trial of phosphodiesterase inhibitors for those with ED. Unlike men with infertility and erectile dysfunction, for whom there are established UK guidelines,4,5 there is no single UK consensus on how to approach male hypogonadism. Our suggested algorithm in Supplementary Figure S1 provides a pragmatic approach to low testosterone, taking into account the best evidence and practice within the NHS. You may think osteoporosis, or brittle bone disease, is a woman’s disease, but it can affect men as well. As testosterone levels fall, the bones may get thinner, weaker, and more likely to break. Low testosterone may affect different body systems, resulting in symptoms that affect memory, mood, bone, muscle, sex drive, and the ability to get or maintain an erection.

Testosterone levels also play a role in libido, erectile function, and ejaculatory function. Your doctor will help you decide if measuring your testosterone levels is important. Blood tests are the only way to know for certain if testosterone levels are low. The normal range is above 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). Two blood tests on separate days must show low testosterone levels before a diagnosis is confirmed. Maintaining normal testosterone levels throughout a man’s life can support his sex drive and fertility, and build the strength of his muscles and bones. Always consult with a healthcare professional to determine the most appropriate treatment for your situation.

Our urologists are prepared to help with common conditions to the most difficult and complicated diagnosis and offer the newest and most innovative treatment options. In most cases, men need to have both low levels of testosterone in their blood and several symptoms of low testosterone to go on therapy. There are no known ways to prevent low testosterone that is caused by genetic conditions or damage to the testes or pituitary gland.

It stimulates the development of male characteristics and is essential for sperm production (spermatogenesis). Levels of testosterone are naturally much higher in men than women. According to a study published in Clinical Endocrinology, the testosterone-level goal for men over 65 is approximately 350–450 ng/dL (nanograms per deciliter). If they do, lower testosterone levels may not be the only cause. For each year over age 30, the level of testosterone in men starts to slowly dip at a rate of around 1 percent per year.

However, an increased presence of testosterone in a woman’s body during exercise helps women to train. In addition, testosterone helps muscles recover faster, which benefits overall exercise progress. Treatment of low testosterone in hypogonadism is a fully accepted therapy. Discuss your testosterone levels, symptoms, and side effects of treatment with your doctor to establish whether you should receive therapy and what form of therapy.