Picking Out Plans For low testosterone

There is a good reason guys go girl-crazy in their teens and her response twenties: Their testosterone levels are Web Site at their peak. From that point, however, go to website testosterone levels slowly decrease.

"After age 30, most men begin to experience a gradual decline in testosterone," states David Samadi, MD, chairman of the urology department at Lenox Hill Hospital in nyc.

Though testosterone levels never reach zero (as estrogen levels do in women during menopause), low testosterone levels men to experience symptoms such as fatigue, low sex drive, and reduction of muscle mass.

While low testosterone is more common in older men, it can occur in younger guys as well. Fortunately, all of the causes of low testosterone in young men are treatable, so if you encounter these symptoms at any age, there is no reason to dismiss it.


For younger guys, a drop in testosterone levels may be brought on by some illnesses, including type 2 diabetes, chronic liver or liver disease, COPD or other lung disorder, or pituitary gland issues, according to Dr. Samadi.

Genetic causes of low testosterone in males include the diseases Klinefelter syndrome, Kallmann syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and Myotonic dystrophy. Another disease that could cause low testosterone is hemochromatosis, making the body shop too much iron.

"Low testosterone can also result when something happens, like trauma or steroid use, that prevents the testes from making the hormone," says Bruce Gilbert, MD, PhD, an adjunct clinical professor of urology and reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and director of reproductive and sexual medicine in the Smith Institute for Urology of their North Shore-LIJ Health System.

Additional causes of low testosterone in men younger than 50 include pituitary gland tumors, HIV infection, and radiation treatment or chemotherapy for cancer.

Doctors categorize causes of low testosterone as secondary or primary.

"Primary hypogonadism stems from a problem in the testicles," Samadi says. "This could be from a developmental issue, injury to the testicles, or radiation or chemotherapy treatment.

Is It Low Testosterone?

Regardless of the cause, low testosterone symptoms are the same.

"Symptoms include low libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, decreased mental acuity, and moodiness," Dr. Gilbert says.

"Younger men with low testosterone usually come to me and say, 'I can't work out like I used to, and I've lost interest in sex.' ”

Your doctor can diagnose low testosterone with a blood test.

If your blood test reveals low testosterone (usually defined as a level lower than 300 ng/dL), the doctor may treat you or refer you to a specialist, such as an urologist or endocrinologist.

Treatments for Low Testosterone in Younger Men

"When it comes to treating low testosterone in younger guys, we usually reserve treatment for those who have symptoms, such as tiredness and low libido," Gilbert says.

In men who don't make the hormone in their testes because of a condition such as Klinefelter syndrome, or those who have lost their testes because of cancer, the only option is testosterone replacement therapy.

In these circumstances,"therapies are often used only in the short term, and if a physician has close observation and knowledge of the patient," Gilbert says.

An important consideration for younger men before getting treatment is fertility. "You do not wish to offer supplemental testosterone to guys who are interested in being fertile because it can turn off sperm production," Gilbert says.

Once a young man goes off testosterone supplementation, there's a chance his sperm count will never return to what it was before he started. "Therefore, men of reproductive age should think about alternatives which may increase their testosterone as well as preserve their sperm production," he says. One such alternative is a class of drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs).

Other treatments for low testosterone include weight loss and other lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier and raising exercise.

The bottom line, though, is that if you have low testosterone symptoms, then it is important to see your doctor. Then, your doctor can rule out more significant causes of your symptoms, such as high blood pressure or a thyroid problem, and give treatment that can improve your energy and high quality of life.

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