Treating low testosterone levels

Treating low testosterone levels

Pneumococcal disease can cause serious infections in the lungs (pneumonia), the bloodstream (bacteremia), and the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). This thyroid test package can reveal insights into your overall health. According to the American Urological Association, about 2 out of 5 men over age 45 and 3 out of 10 men older than 70 have low testosterone. In rare cases when neither therapy works, we can consider increasing the FSH level as well with injections of the FSH substitute hMG. It is well known that exogenous testosterone can – and often will – cause infertility.

“Men who are carrying more fat are more vulnerable to extra conversion of testosterone to estrogen because that conversion occurs more in fatty tissue than in other kinds of body parts,” says Chubak. There are many possible causes of hypogonadism, including genetics, environmental influences, and certain health issues. Not being able to get or keep an erection only occasionally is not considered erectile dysfunction. To be erectile dysfunction, it must happen about 75% of the time intercourse is attempted.

Unfortunately, some doctors prescribe testosterone to treat infertility, and inadvertently make the problem worse. Safe, successful low-T treatments start with personalized conversations. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Sign up for the Healthy Living e-newsletter to receive the latest resources on how to inject testosterone in leg to manage and thrive with diabetes.

Testosterone production can slow as a person ages, and many older people experience symptoms of low testosterone. When your testosterone levels are low, you might have trouble with insomnia and restlessness at night. You may forget what you planned to do and have trouble concentrating. This happens more often when testosterone levels are extremely low. If you have low testosterone and the symptoms bother you, a doctor may recommend testosterone replacement therapy. Some research suggests that hot flashes may be a symptom of very low testosterone levels.

In women, testosterone plays a crucial role in supporting ovarian function, maintaining bone density, and promoting a healthy sex drive. Beyond these characteristics, testosterone affects almost every system in the body, impacting metabolism, cognition, personality, sexual function, libido, with further links to cardiovascular risk and bone density. Are you feeling more tired than usual, struggling with a decreased libido, or noticing changes in your mood? These could be signs of low testosterone, a common issue many men face as they age. Discover the key symptoms of low T and learn how to take control of your health. If you have been experiencing fatigue, a low sex drive, a loss of focus, depression, or any other symptoms of low testosterone, make an online appointment with us today at your local Low T Center. We’ll start working with you to get to the bottom of your symptoms and to help you start feeling better as soon as possible.

If you have any concerns about low testosterone based on symptoms or known risk factors, discuss them with your healthcare provider. Together, you can improve your understanding of your hormone health and determine whether a testosterone blood test is right for you. Keep in mind that other conditions may also cause these symptoms. Testing your levels and discussing your results and symptoms with your healthcare provider can help you discern whether they’re related to low testosterone or a different health concern. A variety of treatment options called “testosterone replacement therapy” are available to supplement the body’s testosterone levels. TRT may be taken as an injection, implant or via a gel or patch. Regaining fertility is not guaranteed, but it is possible for some patients depending on their age and duration of testosterone use.

Even if your levels are low and you have symptoms, low-t therapy is not always the first course of action. If your doctor can identify the source for declining levels—for instance, weight gain or a particular medication—he or she may first address that problem. In most cases, men need to have both low levels of testosterone in their blood and several symptoms of low testosterone to go on therapy. The task force used an evidence-based approach to acknowledge limitations in the published literature before generating recommendations.

Men should always have TRT under the care of a qualified medical professional. If necessary, estradiol and PSA levels will also be assessed periodically. Testosterone circulates in the bloodstream, and it is classified in two different ways. Free testosterone circulates on its own, not attached to another substance. It is more frequent in older men, overweight men, and men with diabetes.

But the truth is low testosterone levels can result in symptoms that just shouldn’t be ignored. In a 2017 study of 398 men who received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer for 12 months, 93% of participants experienced hot flashes. This happened when testosterone levels were “castrate,” which is below 50 ng/dL. Both testosterone levels and cognitive functions, particularly memory, decline with age.