Low Testosterone in Women: Causes and Treatments

Low testosterone: Symptoms, causes, and treatment

An enlarged prostate can block the flow of urine and cause symptoms such as a slow urinary stream and difficulty emptying the bladder. These symptoms are rare in young men but can occur in some circumstances. Assessment for symptoms of urinary obstruction can be performed in older men, or younger men with a history of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, or enlarged prostate) or voiding problems. Standardized evaluations, such as the AUASS (American Urologic Association Symptom Score), can also be utilized. Congenital LH production problems are rare and can be treated with LH replacement (HCG injections). Lesions of the pituitary gland (such as a tumor or damage from trauma or radiation) can also result in decreased LH production.

Males experience a gradual decrease in testosterone as they get older. The older you are, the more likely that you’ll have low testosterone. Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for low testosterone.

If a pituitary problem is the cause, pituitary hormones can be given to help the body make more sperm and restore fertility. A pituitary tumor may need treatment with surgery, medicine, radiation or replacement of other hormones. For older adults who have low testosterone and symptoms of hypogonadism due to aging, it’s less clear how well testosterone replacement works. Even the sexual symptoms can be due to many other conditions, including vascular disease, chronic alcohol use, and depressive disorders. Thus, many men are seeking solutions for these bothersome symptoms, which may involve indiscriminant testing and possible overtreatment. Secondary hypogonadism is caused by damage to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. These parts of the brain control hormone production by the testes.

Completion of a controlled substance contract should be considered before prescribing. If you are trying to have a child, you may want to ask your doctor if you can take a medicine that doesn’t affect fertility. If you’re experiencing symptoms of low testosterone, get diagnosed and start treatment to get back on track. The physician assistants provide treatments for low testosterone including gels, injectables, implants, and more. Poor nutrition is at the root of many diseases and can also create an imbalance of male hormones. Alcohol (more than two drinks a day), increases the conversion of testosterone to estrogen.

Exceptions to his recommendation of getting a new baseline T off the medications include men who were previously on long term TRT prior to starting their fertility efforts. Another category would be men with known irreversible issues with T production (e.g. pituitary insufficiency). These men can just move straight on to starting TRT with their medical provider. This is the most common scenario when we find hypogonadism in younger men seeking treatment for infertility issues. The symptoms of low testosterone are rather vague and nonspecific and can be related to many other health conditions, such as obstructive sleep apnea, overweight or obesity, or a sedentary lifestyle. However, this should generally be an exception where to buy testosterone online the rule, rather than the rule.

After age 30, testosterone levels in men can decline somewhat, and this is often not problematic. But if your testosterone levels get too low, it can cause a range of symptoms and interfere with your daily life, overall wellness, and relationships. You should discuss with your physician how to monitor for prostate cancer and other risks to your prostate. Men with known or suspected prostate or breast cancer should not receive testosterone therapy. You should also talk to your doctor about the risks of testosterone therapy if you have, or are at risk for, heart disease or stroke. In addition, if you are planning fertility, you should not use testosterone therapy.

It’s important to be aware of the misinformation surrounding over-the-counter testosterone supplements and talk with a provider before starting any testosterone treatment. While not advised by medical experts, another treatment option gaining attention and popularity is the use of testosterone boosters or supplements. With celebrity endorsements, over-the-counter testosterone supplements have become widely available and can be found in some sports clinics or vitamin stores with the promise of more energy and bigger muscles. Even if your levels are low and you have symptoms, low-t therapy is not always the first course of action. If your doctor can identify the source for declining levels—for instance, weight gain or a particular medication—he or she may first address that problem. Some men with diabetes have impotence, also called erectile dysfunction (ED). Emotional factors can interfere with sexual feelings and often lead to or worsen sexual dysfunction.

Hormone values tend to respond within two weeks of starting a man on therapy. Generally, repeat blood levels are drawn about 2-4 weeks after starting any new medication (or after a change of medication dosage) in order to assess the response. “It is not accurate that testosterone replacement will improve fertility issues,” he says. Talk to your urologist about how to identify and treat male fertility problems.

Men with testosterone levels below 300 ng/dL may experience low T symptoms to some degree, and even men as young as 25 can experience low testosterone levels. Testosterone replacement therapy has also become an increasingly popular option to treat low testosterone. Before starting testosterone replacement therapy, a provider will conduct screenings and exams to determine if this treatment option is safe and appropriate. Testosterone replacement therapy is available in different formulations ranging from injections, skin patches or implants, nasal gels, or pills. Continuous follow-up including regular blood work is a routine component of safe testosterone replacement therapy.

That’s because fat cells convert testosterone to estrogen, another type of hormone. In addition, obese men may have lower levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), a substance that carries testosterone through the bloodstream. People who have prostate cancer are advised not take testosterone replacement therapy.