What is Low Testosterone?
In the testicles, the male sex hormone testosterone is produced. Testosterone levels are important for a man’s normal sexual development and function.
Testosterone aids the development of male characteristics such as body and facial hair, a deeper voice, and muscle strength in boys during puberty (adolescence). Men need testosterone to produce sperm. Testosterone levels decline with age, so older men tend to have low t center levels in their blood.
These Symptoms Or Conditions May Accompany Low-T:
- Low sex drive
- Fatigue
- Reduced lean muscle mass
- Irritability
- Erectile dysfunction
- Depression
There are many other possible reasons for these symptoms, such as: Opioid usage, several congenital disorders (medical conditions you are born with), testicular loss or harm, diabetes, and obesity are all linked to testicular loss or harm (being overweight). If you have any of these symptoms, you should consult with your doctor or physician.
Why Testosterone Therapy (TT)?
If you have Low-T then you can use Testosterone therapy (TT) . Both the FDA and the AUA suggest using TT to treat congenital abnormalities such Klinefelter syndrome.
If your testicles have injury or testicles are missing, you may need TT. You may need TT if the doctor removes your testicles due to an illness like cancer. If both symptoms and blood testing confirm Low-T levels, most men with Low-T (regardless of the cause) will be treated. If you think you might need TT, talk to your doctor.
TT may be beneficial, but it also has the potential to be dangerous. (For further information on these adverse effects, see the section below.) The Federal Medicine Administration (FDA) has stated that testosterone drug labels should include a warning that some men who use testosterone products may be at risk for heart disease and stroke.People with healthy testosterone levels do not require this treatment. Before starting TT, and at regular intervals while on it, all men should be examined for heart disease and stroke. The AUA, on the other hand, has concluded that there is no solid evidence that TT increases or decreases the risk of cardiovascular events, based on a rigorous evaluation of evidence-based peer-reviewed research.
The FDA was worried when they observed that men were being treated for Low-T based only on their age. To discover more about TT in older guys, more research is being done.
Your doctor will discuss the benefits and risks of TT with you, as well as how to address your symptoms.
Low Testosterone in Men: How Common Is It?
It’s difficult to say how many men have TD, although evidence suggests that about 2.1 percent of males (about 2 men in every 100) may have it. TD can affect as few as 1% of younger men, but it can affect as many as 50% of men over the age of 80. People that study the illness frequently use various cut-off points for the numbers, so you may hear a variety of numbers.
Men with diabetes or who are overweight are more likely to get TD. According to one study, 30% of overweight men had Low-T, compared to only 6.4 percent of normal-weight males. Diabetes was discovered to be a risk factor for TD in the same study. Another study found that 24.5 percent of diabetic males had Low-T, compared to 12.6 percent of men without diabetes.
Symptoms
Low testosterone symptoms can show up in a number of ways. Some are more closely linked to Low-T levels than others (specific signs and symptoms). Others may or may not be connected (non-specific signs and symptoms). Your doctor will assist you in making sense of your circumstances.
Symptoms and Signs of Testosterone Deficiency (TD)
Specific symptoms are those that are more likely to be associated with TD, such as:
- Reduced desire for sex
- Erectile dysfunction
- Hair loss on the body
- Beard growth problems.
- Lean muscle mass loss
- Feeling exhausted all of the time (fatigue)
- Obesity is a widespread issue that affects a large number of people (being overweight)
- Depression symptoms
- Testosterone Deficiency Non-specific Signs and Symptoms (TD)
Non-specific low testosterone symptoms include those that aren’t always linked to TD, such as:
- Physical stamina, endurance, and energy are all dwindling.
- Memory problems
- You’re having problems expressing yourself
- Poor concentration
- Work isn’t going well
It’s possible that you don’t have TD if you have any of the specific or nonspecific symptoms. However, if you have a combination of symptoms, such as becoming increasingly tired and sad over time and this is a new experience for you, you should consider testing for TD.
It’s possible that a lack of sexual desire is insufficient to diagnose TD. However, if you have low sexual desire, poor erectile function, and feelings of sadness and exhaustion, you should consult your doctor.
Causes
Low Testosterone Causes Are Following
- Testosterone Deficiency (TD) is a condition that some people are born with.
- People who got Klinefelter syndrome.
- Noonan syndrome is a condition that affects people.
- Genitalia that are ambiguous (when the sex organs develop in ways that are not typical looking)
Low-T Can Be Caused By A Variety Of Factors, Including The Following:
- Accidental testicular damage
- Cancer is cause for the testicles to be removal.
- Cancer treatment is
- either chemotherapy or radiation.
- Hormone deficiency due to pituitary gland disease
- Infection
- Autoimmune disease is a type of autoimmune disease (when the body makes antibodies that attack its own cells)
- Basically, if your testicles continue to produce less testosterone than normal, your testosterone levels in your blood will drop.
- Low-T levels are found in many men who develop TD and are linked to: Ageing\Obesity
- Metabolic syndrome is a condition in which the body’s metabolism (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and belly fat)
- Because of Medications such as antidepressants and narcotic pain relievers.
- Low testosterone hair loss is also common in men with certain health issues.
