If a boy doesn’t have enough testosterone during puberty, his growth may slow down, and he won’t have a growth spurt. That’s why low testosterone affects more than 60% of men over 65. But low testosterone also affects about a quarter of men over 30 and nearly 40% of men over 45. Looking for more helpful resources for you or the men in your life? Download our free Man-To-Man Guide On Healthy Aging below for even more health tips and information. This quick procedure is required every four to six months for effective alleviation of low T symptoms. Hone-affiliated medical practices are independently owned and operated by licensed physicians who provide services using the Hone telehealth platform.
Lower testosterone levels can reduce the density of bones, leading to osteoporosis and other bone-related problems in hypogonadal men (5). Your blood test results can vary depending on when the test decanoate half life is taken. This is because hormone levels fluctuate throughout your menstrual cycle and even between morning and evening. If you’re still getting a period, there’s a specific window in your cycle that’s best for measuring testosterone in your blood. Talk to a healthcare provider if you struggle with any of these symptoms. They can evaluate you and assess if testosterone levels may be responsible. Low testosterone may affect different body systems, resulting in symptoms that affect memory, mood, bone, muscle, sex drive, and the ability to get or maintain an erection.
In addition to a decrease in sex drive, having trouble getting or maintaining an erection is one of the signs of low testosterone. Testosterone is responsible for sending signals to the brain to produce an erection, so if a man has lower levels of the hormone, the signal may not be strong enough. Erectile dysfunction can be caused by a variety of factors and conditions, so it’s a good idea to consult your urologist to get a proper diagnosis. Testosterone is the male sex hormone that is produced in the testicles. For men experiencing low levels of testosterone, it is common to have a reduced sex drive.
Most of the testosterone in your body is attached to a protein, called sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and is inactive. There are other important lab tests that should be performed to get the best picture of your testosterone levels, including free testosterone (bio-available testosterone). You should discuss with your physician how to monitor for prostate cancer and other risks to your prostate. Men with known or suspected prostate or breast cancer should not receive testosterone therapy. You should also talk to your doctor about the risks of testosterone therapy if you have, or are at risk for, heart disease or stroke.
As they’re easier to use and more convenient to manage, testosterone gels are the preferred and most common delivery method for TRT. The need for daily application may create issues surrounding compliance with some patients, and others may find it irritates the skin at the application site. There are multiple treatment options available to help manage symptoms of hypogonadism, depending on the underlying cause and individual needs.
"A lot of guys walk into clinics running on fumes when it comes to their testosterone levels," says Calvert. "Recent studies have shown an all cause mortality increase in men with lower testosterone levels," says family medicine doctor and Medical Director for Broad Health Jim Staheli, D.O. "Early mortality may not be entirely related to low testosterone levels, but may be caused by that which lowers a man’s testosterone level"—such as toxin exposure and obesity. Based on this assessment, your doctor will create a customised treatment plan with the right medication and dosage tailored to your specific needs.
By the time a man is 80 years old, he has a 50% chance of suffering from the condition. There are a number of other risk factors, which include your weight and whether you have diabetes or not. Many medical professionals consider levels of less than 300 nanograms per deciliter to be too low. This is the threshold where a man may be considered to have a medical condition called Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome or Low T, which can cause a number of significant health concerns. But how common is this, and how do you know whether you may suffer from it?
This hormone also helps maintain sex drive, sperm production, and bone health. The brain and pituitary gland (a small gland at the base of the brain) control the production of testosterone by the testes. Testosterone (the male sex hormone) decreases naturally with age. However, in some cases, testosterone can decrease to a point where it is outside of the normal range and cause a variety of health problems. For the average adult male, testosterone levels are considered normal between the range of 300 – 1,000 ng /dL (with an average around 680 ng / dL).
While one does not appear to cause the other, these conditions tend to co-exist. If you have any questions about the symptoms of low testosterone, please give us a call. Or you can use the online booking tool to set up an appointment. Self-testing and consequently self-treatment can lead to complications and potential harm.
Low testosterone (low T) is becoming an epidemic – low testosterone epidemic. As mentioned, testosterone is the hormone that helps teenagers develop hair on both their body and their face. The reason why many men lose their hair as they age is genetic, but having low levels of testosterone could be a contributing factor that makes the issue worse.
