Low Testosterone: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

Low Testosterone Testosterone Deficiency

Males may experience specific symptoms of low testosterone levels. Authors of an older study from 2012 found that testosterone implants supported hair regrowth in some women receiving treatment for symptoms of sex hormone deficiency. At this time, it is unclear whether TRT increases the risk of prostate cancer or symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, based on inconclusive data, the FDA does warn of a possible increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Your provider will likely have you get a blood test to check your testosterone level. These include medicine side effects, thyroid problems, or depression.

This broad picture sets the stage for understanding the effects of testosterone on the male body and the potential implications of its deficiency. Each professional should possess the necessary skills for assessing, diagnosing, and managing male hypogonadism. This includes competence in interpreting testosterone levels, recognizing symptoms, and understanding the complexities of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. All interprofessional team members must understand the risks, benefits, and contraindications of testosterone therapy. Clinicians participating in this activity can expect to gain a comprehensive understanding of male hypogonadism. Participants learn to recognize key symptoms and appreciate evaluation and management strategies, including patient selection for screening.

Some foods can have a direct effect on the hormone balance, while others have a negative effect on general health. Of those with a direct effect, soy products which contain phytoestrogens can cause an imbalance in natural hormone levels. More research is needed into the connection between consumption of soy products such as edamame and tofu and testosterone levels.

PLUS, the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts. Ultimately, the decision to treat or not treat is shared between you and your healthcare provider, weighing the benefits with the potential risks. When there is infertility, specific fertility-sparing, testosterone-raising regimens are used, generally off-label, including clomiphene citrate or human chorionic gonadotropin HCG).

Testosterone is a key part of how to naturally boost testosterone in men your body makes sperm, and if you have less of it, your sperm production will go down over time. Many men experience symptoms of low testosterone, but it is easy to pass these symptoms off as another health condition or even just blame them on the natural process of aging. But the truth is low testosterone levels can result in symptoms that just shouldn’t be ignored. Treatments that you can take care of yourself include healthy eating and some food supplements to boost your overall health. We will discuss specific foods that can help boost testosterone levels in our Frequently Asked Questions below.

Ambiguous genitalia, micropenis, and bilateral cryptorchidism are all signs of testosterone deficiency in pre-pubertal males. Karyotype testing should be performed in young adults to rule out conditions such as Turner and Klinefelter syndromes, which can result in testosterone deficiency. But we’re beginning to see more men in their 20s with low-T at the UT Southwestern male urology clinic. Sometimes low-T is caused by medical conditions, such as genetic diseases or past chemotherapy or radiation therapy. More often, symptoms can be linked to sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, anxiety, or depression. Most men respond very favorably to testosterone replacement therapy and report feeling better all-round! We prescribe low doses of testosterone as a transdermal cream (which is more convenient than pellets or injections) to restore an individual’s physiological levels.

Additionally,  men’s sperm counts have dropped by more than half in the last 40 years, which is a worrying trend. When a man’s testosterone level drops too low, he might have a number of symptoms. Unfortunately, many of these signs and symptoms are subtle, making them difficult to detect unless one knows what to look for.

Additionally, the circadian rhythm of testosterone secretion becomes less pronounced with age, leading to lower overall levels of the hormone. Studies have shown that testosterone replacement therapy may improve bone mineral density, particularly in hypogonadal men with osteopenia and osteoporosis. Fortunately, there are several options for treatment of Low T. To be most effective, a healthy diet and exercise is recommended with any form of testosterone treatment. Some people’s sex drive goes down as they get older, but those with low testosterone are more likely to notice a significant change.

It’s often not until something is missing that you understand the large influence it had, which can certainly be said of testosterone. This reproductive hormone plays a vital role in a man’s health and wellness and, when levels dip below normal, you can feel the effects in many different ways. Females have much lower serum testosterone than males, making accurate testing difficult. To understand the next steps, be sure to review the results with a healthcare provider. High-quality, long-term research on testosterone replacement in females is lacking.