Testosterone Therapy: What Men Need to Know About Low T and TRT Treatment Los Angeles Times

Major Factors That Cause Low Testosterone, According to Doctors

Your hypothalamus and pituitary gland normally control the amount of testosterone your testicles produce and release. Genetic variants that affect the Y chromosome and the sex hormone-binding globulin may result in a higher risk for low testosterone. SHBG is a protein that helps deliver testosterone to the body’s tissues. For example, testicular atrophy can cause infertility and also reduce a person’s testosterone levels. In this instance, the low testosterone levels are a symptom of an underlying condition, not a cause of infertility. Authors of an older study from 2012 found that testosterone implants supported hair regrowth in some women receiving treatment for symptoms of sex hormone deficiency. There are also finger prick blood tests available that you can do at home to get an indication of your testosterone level.

When the cells are full of glucose, the body stores the excess in fat cells, which may lead to conditions such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. While changes to the lifestyle and diet alone may not raise levels sufficiently, they can often help. A doctor will typically only prescribe TRT if the person has several symptoms of low testosterone and blood test results that indicate a deficiency. Females may also experience specific low testosterone symptoms, such as the following. Testosterone helps stimulate the production of semen, and reduced semen levels can indicate a reduction in testosterone. Many people experience hair loss as a natural part of aging, and age-related hair loss can also affect anyone.

In most cases, men need to have both low levels of testosterone in their blood and several symptoms of low testosterone to go on therapy. If your doctor diagnoses icd 9 code low testosterone testosterone, other tests may be considered before therapy. For example, low-t can speed bone loss, so your doctor may recommend a bone density test to see whether you also need treatment for osteoporosis.

After taking the test, you’ll send your sample to a lab for testing. If you don’t have any of these conditions, your doctor may not be able to tell you why you have low T. Other forms of testosterone treatment include long-acting injections or using a patch applied to your skin. Low testosterone may be present at birth or it may develop later in life.

This is mostly dependent on factors such as age and underlying medical conditions. So, instead of getting a trough value, you get a better sense of how high their levels are going. That’s not something I have been doing, and that will definitely be practice-changing for me. With these continuous checks, you can kind of prove to patients that the treatment is working and their testosterone levels are improving with use of medication. It also helps providers ensure they’re not overdosing, because if you’re just checking troughs and you keep going up on the dose, those peak levels may be incredibly high. In general, you want to participate in activities that promote a healthy lifestyle because it reduces the overall stress your body is required to handle.

People who have prostate cancer are advised not take testosterone replacement therapy. It is important for all males considering testosterone replacement therapy to speak to their healthcare providers and undergo prostate screening before starting this therapy. If you have symptoms such as reduced sex drive or erection problems, you should see your healthcare provider.

It is not intended to provide diagnosis or be a substitute for professional medical advice from a healthcare practitioner. You should not use the information provided for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical or health problem, promptly consult your healthcare practitioner. Low testosterone may also be referred to as testosterone deficiency or hypogonadism. But if the FSH/LH levels come back low, you should probably consider checking prolactin.

Additional tests may be required to help determine the cause of low testosterone. Men in their 70s or older have a higher chance of developing it than men in their 40s or younger. A 2020 meta-analysis found that TRT significantly improved depressive symptoms in men with low testosterone.

Still, the associations between low testosterone and other medical conditions are interesting and worth a look. A lack of testosterone can sometimes have long-term, serious effects on the body. In men with very low levels, the bones can become weak, potentially causing a condition called osteoporosis. Low testosterone can have real and important health effects, especially on a man’s sex life. Men with low testosterone may have trouble getting and keeping an erection. The erections they do have may come less often and not as strongly as before.

It comes as either a topical treatment or mini-injection every week and is generally tolerated really well.”TRT has now been shown to be safe and effective with minimal risks when used in the correct patient. It not only improves symptoms, but can reduce long term health risks and even all cause mortality. A better indication of TD is considering morning erections – as males should still be getting morning erections a few times a week throughout their lives and into their old age. “In advanced cases of TD we don’t just see erectile dysfunction (ED) but also a loss of morning erections.” If this is you, it’s time to see the GP, as 37 per cent of men with TD reported reduced erections. “A lack of both strength training and cardiovascular exercise can contribute to reduced testosterone,” says Dr Huang, who also blames poor sleep.