9 Signs of Low Testosterone In Men

Low Testosterone Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment

This treatment is called testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT. That said, you can manage both conditions with a comprehensive care solution with your doctor and by adopting positive lifestyle changes. To treat low testosterone, testosterone replacement therapy is often prescribed by most doctors. This remedy, typically in the form of either bioidentical or traditional TRT, extraneously puts testosterone in the body through a combination of gels, patches, injections, and pellets. Let’s go under the lens and understand what is a testosterone level sets varying swings of this male sex hormone apart, as well as ways to restore your free testosterone both clinically and naturally.

In this type, your pituitary gland produces more luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (known as gonadotropins) in response to low testosterone levels. The high levels of these hormones would normally tell your testicles to produce more testosterone and sperm. However, if you have damaged (most commonly related to prior chemotherapy) or missing testicles, they can’t respond to the increased levels of gonadotropins. As a result, your testicles make too little or no testosterone and sperm. This is especially true in the midsection due to the influence of testosterone on where your body stores fat. If your testosterone levels are inadequate, you may notice that you’ve gained weight without changing your eating habits. Men with testosterone deficiency commonly experience significant and sustained weight loss when they receive testosterone replacement therapy.

Reduced energy levels happen even after a good night’s rest or a nap. For men, testosterone plays a part in energy production, including converting food to energy. While being tired is natural, the drop should not inhibit the quality of life. A telltale sign of low testosterone is persistent fatigue, despite adequate sleep and good nutrition. When testosterone levels drop, energy levels often follow, leading to reduced motivation and a general feeling of sluggishness. If you find yourself too tired for activities you once enjoyed, it may be due to low T.

Your doctor may test your testosterone levels after you first start therapy or change dosages to make sure your levels aren’t surging too high, Dr. Anawalt says. Some of the side effects of low testosterone—such as sexual dysfunction and weight gain—can bring on the blues. 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. Men can also have difficulty achieving and maintaining erections if their testosterone levels are too low. With a normal erection, testosterone stimulates the tissues in the penis to produce nitric oxide, which then starts several reactions that result in an erection. This can happen naturally as men age, but if your decreased sex drive is due to low testosterone, the drop is more significant.

As boys exit puberty and enter adulthood, testosterone maintains muscle strength and mass, hair growth, bone density, sexual functions, energy and mood levels. Generally, testosterone levels are highest in the morning and lowest in the evening but fluctuation does occur with age. Having a low testosterone level can have a number of negative health effects. These can include a decrease in muscle mass, an increase in body fat, a decrease in energy levels, a decrease in sex drive, depression, and a decrease in overall quality of life.

Growing older doesn’t have to mean putting up with uncomfortable symptoms. For more information, schedule an appointment online or over the phone with Balance Hormone Center today. But the relationship between testosterone and erectile function is complicated. Some men don’t have any trouble getting an erection when their testosterone is low.

The Cigna name, logo, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. Here are a few signs to look out for if you suspect you have high testosterone. According to recent statistics, high testosterone affects about 5% of men, with the highest prevalence among men in their 40s and 50s. To discuss your low testosterone symptoms with one of our physicians, schedule a consultation today.

However, a healthy level for you depends on your age, lifestyle, and bioavailable testosterone level – the unbound testosterone your body isn’t using for daily functions. The effect of testosterone levels on the risk of heart problems has stoked controversy among experts, Dr. Anawalt says. On one side, low levels of testosterone may be linked to heart problems. Found men with low T had a greater risk of dying from heart disease than men with normal levels.