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Major Factors That Cause Low Testosterone, According to Doctors

Is Low Testosterone Dangerous to Your Health?

If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms and don’t believe they’re caused by something else, talk with a doctor. If your doctor thinks your symptoms are related to abnormally low testosterone levels, they can test your levels. Of course, if you’re concerned about you testosterone levels, it’s a good idea to share your concerns with a doctor. They’ll be able to verify your T levels and help build a treatment plan. Here are just a few of the most common ways to treat low testosterone levels. In addition to lifestyle changes and increased exercise, there are a few other options available to you that can help boost the amount of testosterone in your body.

But if you do not have any key symptoms, especially fatigue and sexual dysfunction, which are the most common, it is not recommended you go on the therapy given the uncertainty about long-term safety. Doctors diagnose low high testosterone in older males (https://renewmespa.com/wp-content/pgs/pills_to_boost_testosterone_2.html) based on a physical exam, a review of symptoms, and the results of multiple blood tests since levels can fluctuate daily. Low testosterone levels may lead to an increase in body fat mass. Research suggests that up to 35% of men with erectile dysfunction have low T.

For example, if you have pituitary disease, you may need therapy for the rest of your life. If you’re trying to increase your sex drive, 6 months may do the trick. If low testosterone is caused by a pituitary gland problem, treatment with pituitary hormones may stimulate sperm production and improve fertility. There are concerns about possible increased risks of heart disease and possible risks of prostate cancer development – neither of which have been clearly shown in studies to date. Low testosterone can also be caused by a problem with parts of the brain (hypothalamus and pituitary gland) which make the hormones that stimulate the testicles to make testosterone. See the separate leaflet called Pituitary Gland Disorders for further information.

You may be affected by primary, secondary, or mixed hypogonadism. People undergoing glucocorticoid therapy can develop the condition. It also can affect people with sickle-cell disease, thalassemia, or alcoholism. As a provider, that significant decrease in sex drive, more than anything, is probably the best indicator that you should move forward and conduct hypogonadism testing. Other patient-reported issues like depression, fatigue, and general malaise are not, in and of themselves, great indicators of testosterone level. And these other issues may not even resolve if you opt to treat.

Hypogonadism, as testosterone deficiency (TD) is also known, most certainly is “a thing”. It may affect up to 30 per cent of men in the UK at some stage in their lives and, just like Rob, most men aren’t aware of the condition. In fact, in a study of 2000 men last month, 55 per cent of men were ignorant about the symptoms. The lack of education about TD, along with the stigma of seeming “unmanly,” means that 85 per cent of men wait over a year before seeking treatment. “You don’t need to wait until something feels ‘off’ to check in with a doctor,” says Houman.

If we test a patient without fasting and they’re in the 270 ng/dL range, their fasting value would potentially be around 320 ng/dL. Maybe you’ve been considering a vasectomy but haven’t quite finalized your decision yet because you’re worried about the side effects. Or maybe you’ve already been snipped and you’re wondering What if my vasectomy caused my decrease in low testosterone? Wherever you are on that journey to understanding the ins and outs of this simple and potentially reversible procedure, you should know that a vasectomy doesn’t impact your testosterone levels at all.

To make a diagnosis, a provider will consider your specific signs, symptoms and any blood test results. Causes of primary and secondary hypogonadism are also divided into either congenital (at birth) or acquired (developed later in childhood or adulthood). And other studies have estimated that more than 8% of men aged 50 to 79 years have low testosterone. It’s difficult for researchers to estimate how common low testosterone is since different studies have different definitions for low testosterone. Most people will notice relief from symptoms within 3–60 weeks of starting TRT.

If you have low testosterone and the symptoms bother you, a doctor may recommend testosterone replacement therapy. Primary hypogonadism happens when something is wrong with your testicles that doesn’t allow them to make normal levels of testosterone. However, some researchers and healthcare providers disagree with this and feel that levels below 250 ng/dL are low. Providers also take symptoms into consideration when diagnosing low testosterone. Any issue with your testicles, hypothalamus or pituitary gland can cause low testosterone (male hypogonadism).