When to treat low testosterone? Ohio State Health & Discovery
Low Testosterone: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
To make a diagnosis, a provider will consider your specific signs, symptoms and any blood test results. In one study, 30% of men who were overweight had low testosterone, compared to only 6% of those with weight in the normal range. In another study, 25% of men with Type 2 diabetes had low testosterone, compared to 13% of those without diabetes. If your most concerning symptom from lower testosterone is erectile dysfunction, erectile dysfunction medications may help.
If you have any concerns, it’s critical that you speak with an experienced specialist in men’s health to determine the problem. If TRT raises testosterone levels but does not improve symptoms, providers may recommend that men stop TRT. It’s possible that the symptoms are not related to TD, and further evaluation could be necessary. About 2 to 4 weeks after starting testosterone therapy, patients need to return for a checkup. If results are satisfactory, further assessment is recommended every 6 to 12 months.
Testosterone replacement therapy may contribute to or cause sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that causes your breathing to stop and start repeatedly while you sleep. It can disrupt your sleep pattern in the process and raise your risk for other complications, like having a stroke.
It is secreted by the testes and is responsible for the typical male characteristics, such as facial, pubic, and body hair as well as muscle. This hormone also helps maintain sex drive, sperm production, and bone health. The brain and pituitary gland (a small gland at the base of the brain) control the production of testosterone by the testes.
But the effects can be quite different from one man to the next. Sometimes in primary hypogonadism testosterone levels are within the normal range and gonadotropins are high. Your specialist will help you understand if you need treatment, even with normal testosterone levels.
Clinical Review BoardAll Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals. If you’re struggling with low testosterone, you’re probably wondering about the most effective treatment. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a proven treatment for this condition. Treating low testosterone is a long-term commitment that we’ll enter into together. Alongside your treatment, we’ll provide regular testing, tracking, and monitoring of your symptoms. Our experts are on hand to support you with any questions or concerns, and make any necessary adjustments to maximise your results.
Based on what we find, you may need to undergo a few more tests to determine the cause of your decreased testosterone. Our team at The Endocrine Center sees the effects of low testosterone (low T) in men of all ages, and we offer several quick and painless treatments that rebalance their hormones. Here are some of the signs that your testosterone level may have dipped below normal. Your blood test results can vary depending on when the test is taken. This is because hormone levels fluctuate throughout your menstrual cycle and even between morning and evening.
High PSA levels may mean you have prostate cancer, which can affect testosterone levels. Risks from testosterone therapy are most often due to doses that are too high. That’s why it’s so important to have regular follow-up visits with a health care professional, who will monitor the testosterone levels in your blood. Testosterone levels gradually begin to decrease as you enter your 30s. But you can experience low testosterone levels at any time in your life. Healthcare providers measure testosterone levels with a blood lab test hematocrit. Studies show that men with low testosterone are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome.
This also helps prevent the most common diseases that men are most likely to die from, heart disease and cancer. Overtraining in endurance sports such as American football and weight-class wrestling and excessive exercise with calorie restriction can cause testosterone deficiency as well. Testosterone therapy is accepted as a treatment for hypogonadism, a clearly defined medical condition. This short-time spike disappears after that period of time and is bigger for younger men.