12 Signs of Low Testosterone

7 Symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency

Some testosterone supplements have been shown to cause health conditions such as erectile dysfunction and kidney failure. 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. If your doctor diagnoses low testosterone, other tests may be considered before therapy. For example, low-t can speed bone loss, so your doctor may recommend a bone density test to see whether you also need treatment for osteoporosis. To diagnose low testosterone in females, a doctor starts with a physical exam and asks about any symptoms.

Injections are typically performed weekly or twice weekly to keep levels stable. Urologists tailor treatment to a patient’s personal situation, prescribing formulations that are safe and effective for you. We will also monitor your health after you start testosterone therapy, making any adjustments as needed. My sister started it all, she posted a FB post that she had lost 50 pounds!

If you have low testosterone and the symptoms bother you, a doctor may recommend testosterone replacement therapy. It’s important to note hot flashes occurred during prostate cancer treatment. More research on the link between hot flashes and low T is needed. With low T, you may have difficulty achieving an erection before sex or having spontaneous erections, such as during sleep. According to the American Urological Association (AUA), 4 in 10 males ages 45 years and older have low testosterone.

But too much estrogen can cause conditions such as gynecomastia (male breast tissue). Excess estrogen can also cause sleep apnea, edema (swelling), and acne. Low testosterone levels in males can lead to erectile dysfunction.

Lower levels of testosterone cause both a loss of muscle mass and an increase in body fat. In particular, a condition called gynecomastia, which involves large or swollen breasts in men, often presents itself. This issue arises when there is an imbalance between the two hormones testosterone and estrogen and can do pcos women have high testosterone a big effect on a man’s mental wellbeing and sex life. Testosterone plays a vital role throughout a male’s entire lifetime. This hormone develops male sex organs before birth and specific characteristics at puberty like voice deepening, increased penis and testes size, and facial hair growth. Testosterone is essential for libido, sperm production, red blood cell production, and muscle maintenance in adulthood. For these reasons and more, testosterone is considered a necessary hormone for men’s overall health and well-being.

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. 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. The side effects of DHEA supplementation can be similar to those of too much testosterone.

Talk to us if you notice changes in your mental and emotional health, and we’ll check for a hormone issue. Men with hypogonadism often report persistent tiredness and a lack of energy, which can be alleviated with appropriate testosterone therapy. Lab results provided by our on-site lab allows our primary care team to monitor chronic medical conditions like thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. As you age, your chances of having low testosterone levels become more likely.

What counts as ‘normal’ testosterone levels can change from person to person. But levels are generally considered low when they fall below 12 nmol/l (or below 15nmol/l in certain patients with pre-existing medical problems such as type 2 diabetes). Modification in lifestyles, such as eating healthy food and regular exercise can help in restoring normal testosterone levels (2). However, it is imperative to mention that investigators are not completely certain if  a person develops obesity due to declining testosterone levels or vice versa (2).