Low Testosterone In Men: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment

Low Testosterone vs Depression: Symptom Guide

Still, the associations between low testosterone and other medical conditions are interesting and worth a look. A lack of testosterone can sometimes have long-term, serious effects on the body. In men with very low levels, the bones can become weak, potentially causing a condition called osteoporosis. Low testosterone can have real and important health effects, especially on a man’s sex life. Men with low testosterone may have trouble getting and keeping an erection. The erections they do have may come less often and not as strongly as before.

Low testosterone can cause many symptoms, and several factors can contribute to a deficiency. 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. Sometimes in primary hypogonadism testosterone levels are within the normal range and gonadotropins are high. Your specialist will help you understand if you need treatment, even with normal testosterone levels. „what is a natural testosterone booster is more common is the natural variation in testosterone requirements between individuals – both men and women,“ says Dr Foster. „There is growing interest in the role of genetics in testosterone production and how the body responds to it.

But hypogonadism is usually reversible when you stop using these substances. One small study of 10 healthy young men found that just one week of not getting enough sleep negatively affected testosterone levels. Getting just five hours of sleep a night decreased their T by 10 to 15 percent.

The majority of studies showed that testosterone increased muscle mass but did not have an effect on muscle strength or function. That review said that the evidence from randomised control trials was said not to support treatment for physical function, sexual function, mood or cognition. According to the American Urological Society, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may result in improvements in low sex drive, anemia, bone mineral density, lean body mass, and/or depressive symptoms. The evidence is inconclusive whether TRT improves cognitive function, measures of diabetes, energy, fatigue, lipid profiles, and quality of life measures. Millions of men use testosterone replacement therapy to restore low levels and feel more alert, energetic, mentally sharp, and sexually functional. For instance, being overweight, having diabetes or thyroid problems, and taking certain medications, such as glucocorticoids and other steroids, can affect levels. Therefore, simply having low-t levels does not always call for taking extra testosterone.

In their 60s, roughly 20 percent of men have low testosterone, according to the Urology Care Foundation. And by the time men have reached their 80s, about half of them have had a drop in testosterone levels. For men without another underlying cause, maintaining a healthy body weight is important. Obesity in young men is increasing and there has been shown to be an increased number of young men with low testosterone levels in the United States, resulting from obesity.

Symptoms of high testosterone may be an indication of an underlying condition that needs to be treated. Some studies show improvement in ED in older men, while others don’t. There’s no evidence that testosterone therapy improves ED in men with normal testosterone levels.

As listed above (see Causes and Risk Factors of Low T), many conditions, such as obesity or heart failure, relate to or potentially contribute to low T. The widespread decline in T levels also has implications for society as a whole, says Houman. There are no medically recommended over-the-counter treatments for low testosterone. A carefully formulated TRT treatment plan should avoid many of these undesirable side effects.

However, the overall level of testosterone in your body changes throughout your lifetime as well. Studies have shown testosterone affects muscle mass, but not necessarily strength or function. Some health conditions and lifestyle habits can interfere with the production of this essential hormone.

As males age they have a deterioration of hypothalamic-pituitary function and Leydig cell function that decrease testosterone and/or sperm production. Testosterone helps the body produce healthy red blood cells (RBCs). Low testosterone levels could lead to anemia, a blood disorder that may occur due to the decrease of RBCs. Obesity, lack of sleep, stress, and poor nutrition can all tank testosterone levels. Regular exercise, weight loss, clean eating, and managing sleep hygiene can go a long way in restoring natural production or enhancing the benefits of TRT if you’re on it. However, testosterone therapy is highly effective for men with truly low testosterone, well below normal levels.