Male Hypogonadism StatPearls NCBI Bookshelf

Effects of Low Testosterone

Some men go to their doctor’s office to receive testosterone injections. Frequency can vary from one injection every week to one injection every 10 weeks. (Most men have an injection every 2 weeks.) Shots may be placed just under the skin or directly into a muscle. The average life expectancy is more than 76 years, and if you reach age 65, you can likely count on an additional 18 years. That’s great news until you realize that you could be living more than two-thirds of your life with significantly less testosterone than you started with.

When your testosterone level goes down, so does your desire to have sex. There are many symptoms of low testosterone in men, including flagging energy levels, low libido, weight gain, and hair loss. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, consider getting your testosterone levels tested. When T levels decrease below 300 ng/dL and start causing symptoms, it’s called hypogonadism. While you can take some steps on your own to boost testosterone naturally, including eating certain foods, medical treatment is usually needed to bring testosterone levels up to a normal range. If you have been experiencing any of these symptoms and think they could be due to low testosterone levels, it’s time to talk with a doctor. An experienced urologist can help identify if Low T is the cause of your symptoms and provide effective treatment options, including testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).

Though present in both men and women, testosterone is often called the male hormone because men have a much higher percentage than women. Testosterone surges during puberty and is critical in the development of distinctly male features — a deeper voice, facial and body hair, muscle strength, and sperm. In males, low testosterone can cause infertility, osteoporosis (progressive bone thinning), muscle weakness, and erectile dysfunction. Managing low testosterone involves a combination of lifestyle modifications and medical treatments tailored to individual needs and health conditions.

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Because testosterone levels can fluctuate from day to day, two to three consecutive low counts are needed to definitively diagnose male hypogonadism. The blood tests should be taken at least a week apart, ideally between 7 a.m. Inappropriate use of testosterone supplementation is strongly discouraged, and regular monitoring of testosterone levels, PSA, Hgb, and Hct is required. Failure to relieve or significantly improve symptoms after 6 months of therapy may result in discontinuation of the testosterone treatment. This avoids excessive, potentially dangerous supernormal peak levels.[53] There is some controversy regarding when to check testosterone levels when using injections.

Testosterone is the most critical hormone in men, considered a male’s life force. Without the right amount of T, males can’t mature during puberty. This crucial hormone also affects other health and lifestyle factors. Low testosterone can cause a decrease in muscle tone and bone density, as well as an increase in abdominal fat. Additionally, it can diminish energy levels and thwart motivation.

Most cases of low testosterone are treatable, and being aware of the symptoms can help a person receive an early diagnosis and treatment. In people with fertility problems, low testosterone may be a symptom of a testicular function issue causing infertility rather than a cause of infertility itself. While changes to the lifestyle and diet alone may not raise levels sufficiently, they can often help. In one study, 30% of men who were overweight had low testosterone, compared to only 6% of those with weight in the normal range. In another study, 25% of men with Type 2 diabetes had low testosterone, compared to 13% of those without diabetes. LOH and low testosterone are more common in men who have Type 2 diabetes, overweight and/or obesity.

Testosterone stimulates osteoblasts to deposit bone, so if your T levels are low, you may make less bone. “Fortunately an increased boost in energy is one of the first things I hear from my guys I put on TRT,” says Calvert. While you can blame forgetfulness or not feeling as sharp as you once were on getting older, these could also be signs that your testosterone is low. The relationship isn’t completely understood, but researchers suspect that testosterone acts as a vasodilator, allowing more blood flow into the penis, says Calvert. Without enough testosterone, blood may not be able where to inject testosterone enanthate (https://castellodeiragazzi.it/) enter the penis and allow it to get rigid enough for sex.