Low Testerone Levels In Men – Diagnosis, Symptoms, And Treatment
It is normal for testerone levels to drop as men age. They are known to steadily decline after the age of 40 in a man.most men. It is normal for a male to experience a decline of 1% to 2% of testerone per year. Only a very minimal percentage of men have levels that are considered subnormal. Experts opine that low testerone in men that do not throw up any symptoms do not need to be treated. However, those males with symptoms of low testerone experience benefits from treatment.
The Role Of Testerone In Puberty
New testerone during the pubertal stage deepens the voice, forms and maintains the male sex organs, and promotes secondary male sex characteristics such as deepening of voice and hair growth in both men and women. Testerone also facilitates muscle growth and bone development.
What Indicates Low Testerone Levels?
A simple laboratory test can be used to determine the testerone levels in the blood. This is usually ordered by a physician. The test is usually conducted in the early part of the day when the levels are the highest.
Free testerone circulating in the blood is measured in nanograms per deciliter of the blood. The free circulating testerone levels in the blood vary over a wide range during the course of the day. A level below 300 ng/dl of blood is considered low. Associated tests are usually performed by the doctor to determine the exact cause of the low testerone. They may include physical examination of the genitals, body hair, bone density test, etc., among others.
Symptoms of Low Testerone Levels
Some typical symptoms of low testerone include:
• Decreased libido or sex drive.
• Decreased or low sperm count.
• Erectile dysfunction.
• Increased irritability.
• Loss of muscle mass and body hair.
• Hot flashes, depression.
• Osteoporosis, decreased bone mass.
• Increased breast size.
Causes of Low Testerone Levels
The low testerone levels are linked to aging. A decrease in testerone and other androgens is a sign of male menopause, also called andropause. Diseases of the glands such as the hypothalamus and the pituitary glands can be a cause. Damage to the cells of the testes can cause low levels of testerone. This could be due to accidents, inflammation of the testes, testicular cancer etc. Decreased functional activity of the gonads, the testicles in males, is also called hypogonadism. Low levels of testerone can also be due to abnormality of genetic material in the body and other genetic diseases.
Treatments for Low Testerone Levels
Testerone Levels Guide
Bioidentical hormones are derived from plant sources as opposed to prepackaged hormones that are chemically synthesized in a laboratory and sold as prepackaged products over pharmacy counters. Bioidentical hormones are compounded on a per patient basis at pharmacies and are made to order. They serve to increase the free and total testerone levels in the blood. The prepackaged versions are also more expensive and are sold only in a limited number of doses.
There are various testerone supplements in the market available from health stores that can be used to increase the testerone levels in the blood. These are also used by bodybuilders for extra energy and building up of muscle mass.
Testerone pills can be taken orally to replace low levels of testerone. However, the flip side is that reasonably large doses have to be taken to compensate for the loss due to metabolization by the digestive system. Testerone injections are also used by many men. Testerone topical creams are easy to use and convenient. These are manufactured to be directly absorbed by the bloodstream. Testerone patches work almost in the same way. They can be used discreetly and conveniently and are not noticeable.
However, it is strongly recommended that the advice of medical expert is sought before embarking on a testerone replacement therapy. Men with metastatic prostate cancer or breast cancer should not take testerone replacement hormones as these found to aggravate the cancers. Patients with sleep disorders and congestive heart failures should not take hormone replacement medication as it seen to worsen the existing medical condition.
Low testerone levels can be effectively dealt with by incorporating healthy lifestyle changes such as incorporating a nutritious diet, regular exercise, cessation of smoking, giving adequate rest to the body, cutting down on stress levels at the workplace and at home, and building up an overall positive attitude.