Low Testosterone
Overview
What is Low Testosterone?
Testosterone is the hormone that puts hair on a man’s chest, bone mass, muscles, physical strength and the force behind a man’s sex drive. Testosterone keeps a man’s muscles and bones strong and maintains their sex drive. Testosterone levels change throughout your life, and after age 30 most men start a gradual decline in testosterone and a decreased sex drive.
Talking with your Saint John’s Physician Partners doctor about this sensitive topic is an important step to understand what this means and what can be done about it. Even if you don’t have any visible symptoms, it may be a good idea to be tested for low testosterone since it can often lead to drops in bone density, which could lead to more fragile bones and prone to breaks. Most cases of low testosterone are treatable.
Some issues that can contribute to low testosterone include:
- Medicines
- Genetics
- Aging
- Obesity
- Injury to testicles
- Testicular cancer
- Hormonal disorders
- Infection
- Type 2 diabetes
- HIV/Aids
- Chronic liver or kidney disease
Symptoms
Low Testosterone Symptoms
It’s possible to have low testosterone and have no symptoms. The common symptoms of low testosterone include:
- Fatigue and low levels of energy
- Erectile dysfunction
- Low sex drive
- Enlarged breasts
- Reduction in testicle size
- Less semen
- Hair loss
- Weight gain
- Trouble sleeping
- Reduced bone and muscle mass
- Mood swings
Diagnosis
Low Testosterone Diagnosis
The best way to diagnose low testosterone is a visit to your doctor to review your overall health and discuss your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend a blood test to determine your testosterone levels and treatment recommendations. The American Urology Association (AUA) also report that about 2 in every 100 men have low testosterone.
Treatments
Low Testosterone Treatments
Based on your blood test results, the most common treatment for low testosterone is testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Most men will notice relief within 4-6 weeks after starting treatment. There are several methods for TRT, including:
- Skin patches
- Gels
- Tablets
- Injections
- Surgically implanted pellets
Your urologist will discuss the benefits and risks of TRT so you can make an informed decision.
Specialists
