Low Testosterone Testosterone Deficiency: Symptoms and Treatment

Low Testosterone Testosterone Deficiency: Symptoms and Treatment

Even if your testosterone levels are below the recommended range, you still might not have to worry. Doctors say that a reading between 200 and 300 ng/dL is sort of a gray area. Men who don’t respond to the medicines that are used to treat erectile dysfunction (such as sildenafil), should also have their testosterone level checked. One large study in Europe found that testosterone deficiency affected about 2 in 100 men aged 40 to 79 years. Testosterone deficiency affected about 5 in 100 men aged 70 to 79 years.

Some types of herbal supplements claim to be «testosterone elevated in women boosters.» The makers of these products claim that the ingredients help to increase levels of testosterone. Levels that are just slightly low aren’t a cause for concern by themselves. But if you have other symptoms, you’ll want to see your doctor. «Everyone agrees that if you have a phenomenally low level, you’d benefit from treatment. But if it’s just slightly low, as is more common, you’d definitely want to have symptoms,» says Bradley Anawalt, MD, chief of medicine at the University of Washington.

One of the most persistent myths around TRT is that it makes men overly aggressive or «unnatural.» The reality? Testosterone replacement also affects metabolic parameters, with effects on cholesterol occurring in 4 weeks, peaking at 6–12 months, and blood sugar levels improving after 3–12 months. Research into the relationship between low testosterone and several other health conditions is ongoing. Experts don’t suggest that low testosterone causes these conditions. That is, men with medical problems or who are in poor general health might then develop low testosterone.

But another small study suggested that frequent masturbation before strength training workouts could provide a prolonged boost in testosterone levels and assist with muscle growth, though more research is needed. If your levels are low, you may be prescribed testosterone replacement therapy. Most men with low testosterone rub a testosterone gel on their arms or shoulders, according to the Urology Care Foundation. Another method is to get a shot into a muscle, or you can wear a patch that slowly releases testosterone into your blood. There are oral replacement therapies as well, but these are not recommended for testosterone replacement. Men with prostate cancer shouldn’t take testosterone because it can fuel cancer growth. Low testosterone, also known as «low T,» is a common condition in men as they get older.

It’s important to tell your doctor about all medications you’re taking. In people assigned male at birth, most testosterone is made in the testes. In people assigned female at birth, most testosterone is made in the ovaries. Testosterone is a hormone that plays a role in puberty, fertility, and libido. Treatment options, such as increased exercise or medication, could help boost your levels. How long you’ll need therapy can vary, depending on the symptom(s) you’re trying to treat.

You may be affected by primary, secondary, or mixed hypogonadism. People undergoing glucocorticoid therapy can develop the condition. It also can affect people with sickle-cell disease, thalassemia, or alcoholism. As a provider, that significant decrease in sex drive, more than anything, is probably the best indicator that you should move forward and conduct hypogonadism testing. Other patient-reported issues like depression, fatigue, and general malaise are not, in and of themselves, great indicators of testosterone level. And these other issues may not even resolve if you opt to treat.

«On a societal scale, this could exacerbate population challenges, particularly in countries already experiencing aging populations and workforce shortages,» he says. Even though testosterone is incredibly important for sperm production, moderately low levels do not cause low sperm counts. Testosterone drug treatment, however, will shut down sperm production; it is never used when fertility is being considered.

To start, «factors such as increasing rates of obesity, poor sleep patterns, and chronic stress are thought to contribute significantly to reduced testosterone levels,» he says. (According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US prevalence of obesity was 23.9% in 1990 and currently sits at 41.3%). Studies to answer these questions are under way, but it will be years before we know the results.