Low Testosterone Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment

10 Low Testosterone Symptoms You Shouldnt Ignore

Doctors can also administer injections of testosterone and medical researchers are currently studying the effects of testosterone patches and pellets implanted in the skin. Some women may also obtain testosterone gel formulations from compounding pharmacies. However, these gels are traditionally used for men that have much higher average testosterone levels than when compared with women.

While hair loss can be due to aging, low levels of testosterone can also play a part. You might notice bald spots you hadn’t had before or an increase in thinning hair in multiple areas or your body. Low testosterone is something that 19 to 39 percent of older men deal with. And while low testosterone can lead to several health issues, the opposite can also be true in that certain conditions can lead to low levels of testosterone.

Testosterone is the primary male hormone and is made mostly by the testicles. It plays several important roles in life including increasing muscle mass and strength, enhancing sex drive, maintaining sperm production, improving bone density and producing new red blood cells. As belly fat increases, there is an increase in activity of the enzyme “aromatase” which converts testosterone in the fat cells to estrogen. This reduces testosterone and increases estrogen, which can increase fat deposition in typical female areas (breast, hips, thighs) and increase the risk of enlargement of the prostate and even prostate cancer. With every one-point drop in your body mass index (BMI) your testosterone level will increase by approximately 1 point. In fact, management of obesity may prevent declining total testosterone in the aging male.

Testosterone helps to produce bone tissue and maintain bone volume. Low testosterone can lead to a reduction in this volume, which can make the bones more susceptible to fractures. You should always talk to your doctor before starting any testosterone or related medications and supplements. They’ll be able to provide tests and make sure that there are no interactions with other medications you take. Doctors may prescribe a medication called Estratest in post-menopausal women.

It’s important to be aware of the misinformation surrounding over-the-counter testosterone supplements and talk with a provider before starting any testosterone treatment. While not advised by medical experts, another treatment option gaining attention and popularity is the use of testosterone boosters or supplements. With celebrity endorsements, over-the-counter testosterone supplements have become widely available and can be found in some sports clinics or vitamin stores with the promise of more energy and bigger muscles. Even if your levels are low and you have symptoms, low-t therapy is not always the first course of action. If your doctor can identify the source for declining levels—for instance, weight gain or a particular medication—he or she may first address that problem. Some men with diabetes have impotence, also called erectile dysfunction (ED). Emotional factors can interfere with sexual feelings and often lead to or worsen sexual dysfunction.

Because gels and patches are applied every day, they keep a steady level of testosterone. However, they can cause itching, irritation, and blisters at the spot where they’re applied. Women and children should not touch skin treated with a gel or patch. Some men have subtle problems like mood changes, poor concentration, and less energy.

In this article, you will learn more about the symptoms of low testosterone, how low testosterone is diagnosed, and the treatments available. With the availability of new T formulations in combination with aggressive consumer advertising there has been an exponential rise in the use of TRT reasons for low testosterone in men late onset hypogonadism. In the USA, sales of T preparations quadrupled between 2000 and 2011, although the number of low serum T in commercial laboratories has remained relatively constant (44). Hypoandrogenism is a common diagnosis in older men because the aging testis loses its ability to produce adequate levels of T despite normal or unchanged levels of LH (3). Approximately 40% of men over the age of 45 and 50% of men in their 80s are hypogonadal (4, 5). T levels have been found to decrease by 100 ng/dL every 10 years or an average rate of 1–2% per year beyond age 30, which may further vary by adiposity, medications, and chronic disease (6–8). In the elderly population, symptoms highly suggestive of hypogonadism include decreased spontaneous erections, decreased nocturnal penile tumescence, decreased libido, and reduced testicular volume (9).

However, a man’s PSA levels might increase during testosterone therapy, so it is important to monitor them. A urologist may also conduct a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test to check for signs of prostate cancer. He/she may also measure the red blood cells in the body (hematocrit) to keep a baseline record of red blood cell counts, because they can go up after taking testosterone.

Testosterone is a hormone that can affect appearance and sexual development, stimulate sperm production and sex drive, and help build muscle and bone mass. It’s typically produced by the testicles in people assigned male at birth. When a male’s testosterone levels are low, it can cause a variety of symptoms. These can include low libido, erectile dysfunction, depression, irritability, and reduced lean muscle mass. Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is a type of secondary male hypogonadism that results from normal aging. As males age they have a deterioration of hypothalamic-pituitary function and Leydig cell function that decrease testosterone and/or sperm production. While there may be some evidence that testosterone levels increase slightly with strength training, the evidence is controversial.

Because testosterone levels peak in the early morning and decrease throughout the day, two blood draws will be done early in the morning on different days. Just as menopause symptoms can be disruptive in the workplace, low testosterone symptoms can also impact productivity. Ensuring that employees of all ages feel supported, informed, and empowered in their health is critical in creating a positive, inclusive work environment.