Low Testosterone: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Low Testosterone Treatment

Both testosterone levels and cognitive functions, particularly memory, decline with age. As a result, doctors have theorized that lower testosterone levels may contribute to affected memory. Testosterone replacement therapy may cause the prostate to grow. If a man has early prostate cancer, a concern is that testosterone may stimulate cancer growth. Therefore, it is important for all men considering testosterone replacement therapy to undergo prostate screening before starting treatment. Men who are found to have prostate cancer should not undergo testosterone replacement therapy. A slow drop in testosterone is a normal part of aging, sometimes called “andropause” or “male menopause.” For many men, this doesn’t cause any significant problems or symptoms.

Your total testosterone levels include both free and bound testosterone. It’s possible that as with males, female testosterone levels naturally decline with age, and may lead to symptoms, such as low energy and impaired muscle growth. But at this time, research into the effect of low testosterone in females is limited and there are no conclusive guidelines for what should be considered “low” testosterone levels in females. While it’s natural for testosterone levels to gradually decline through adulthood, men with testosterone levels below 300 ng/dL may have a disease known as low testosterone (also called hypogonadism or low-T). It occurs when the body is unable to produce normal amounts of testosterone due to a problem with the testicles or the pituitary gland that controls the testicles. Testosterone production ramps up during puberty and typically decreases gradually with age, starting around age 30.

Meanwhile, most studies focus on the effects of individual ingredients rather than proprietary blends. Three to six months of testosterone shots can help start puberty. The testosterone can help increase muscle mass, beard and pubic hair growth, and growth of the penis.

If a man has one or both testicles surgically removed, his body will produce less testosterone. Chemotherapy and radiation can affect testosterone production, too. For example, trouble with erections can be a sign of diabetes or heart disease. Low sex drive could be linked to depression or be a side effect of medication.

Some men go to their doctor’s office to receive testosterone injections. Frequency can vary from one injection every week to one injection every 10 weeks. (Most men have an injection every 2 weeks.) Shots may be placed just under the skin or directly into a muscle.

Though some natural substances, such as fenugreek seed extracts and bikini contest bodybuilding ashwagandha root, have shown promise for increasing T levels in some males, this result is not a given. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. If any of these risk factors are in your family health history, tell your doctor. For couples who would like to keep their fertility options open, I do not recommend switching to exogenous androgen replacement.

The care offered at Richmond University Medical Center goes beyond innovative treatments. Our team understands the emotional toll low-T and other male reproductive conditions can take. For this, we are happy to recommend and refer patients to counseling services and support.

Some medications and certain genetic conditions can also lower a man’s testosterone reading. Men who are hypertensive, obese, or who have elevated cholesterol levels may also suffer from low testosterone levels. Low testosterone, a form of hypogonadism, occurs when the body fails to produce an adequate supply of this hormone. This condition is more prevalent as men age, occurring in about 20 percent of men age 60 and older and increasing to as much as 50 percent in men age 80 and older. While testosterone is thought of as the male hormone, it is necessary for female functioning as well, and women may also suffer from low testosterone. The right levels of testosterone play an important role in your health, no matter your gender. Checking your testosterone level is as simple as having a blood test from your doctor.

Particularly, men who are experiencing abnormal symptoms should consider asking their doctor about getting their testosterone level checked. Studies show that testosterone replacement therapy can improve erectile function in people with mild erectile dysfunction. You can be born with male hypogonadism, or it can develop later in life, often from injury or infection. The effects — and what you can do about them — depend on the cause and at what point in your life male hypogonadism occurs. Some types of male hypogonadism can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy. If you or your doctor suspect you have low testosterone, we can measure the amount of testosterone in your blood using a blood test. Depending on the results, we can treat your low levels with testosterone replacement therapy.

As men age, testosterone levels tend to decline, which is normal. However, low T can cause unwanted symptoms and sometimes health concerns. Beyond statistical significance, clinical relevance is another key factor. In analyzing the literature, it is imperative to determine whether or not statistically significant results are clinically meaningful.