Male hypogonadism Diagnosis & treatment
Male hypogonadism Diagnosis & treatment
Excess estrogen can also cause sleep apnea, edema (swelling), and acne. An estimated 1 in 50 men have low-T and experience symptoms such as lessened energy, decreased libido (sex drive), erectile dysfunction, lack of concentration, or trouble sleeping. Around age 30, a man’s testosterone levels may slowly begin to decline. Approximately 35% of men in their 70s have low-T, according to the American Urological Association. When a male’s testosterone levels are low, it can cause a variety of symptoms. These can include low libido, erectile dysfunction, depression, irritability, and reduced lean muscle mass.
Be open with your doctor about your medical history, all prescription and nonprescription drugs you are now taking, sexual problems, and any major changes in your life. Your doctor will take a thorough history of your symptoms and then complete a physical exam, including your body hair, breast tissue, and the size and consistency of the testes and scrotum. Your doctor will also use blood tests to see if your total testosterone level is low. To get a diagnosis of hypogonadism, you need at least two early morning (7–10 AM) blood tests that reveal low testosterone in addition to signs and symptoms typical of low testosterone. The cause of hypogonadism can be investigated further by your doctor.
In males, hypogonadism, a condition where the testicles produce little or no testosterone, may occur at any age. A diminishing sex drive occurs naturally with age, but when the cause is low testosterone, a male will notice a significant decrease in the desire for sex. Primary hypogonadism happens when something is wrong with your testicles that doesn’t allow them to make normal levels of testosterone. Any issue with your testicles, hypothalamus or pituitary gland can cause low testosterone (male hypogonadism). Seeing a specialist, such as a urologist, is the best way to find testosterone-boosting solutions that will work.
The care offered at Richmond University Medical Center goes beyond innovative treatments. Our team understands the emotional toll low-T and other male reproductive conditions can take. For this, we are happy to recommend and refer patients to counseling services and support.
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. Men with low testosterone can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy. It is important for a man to be checked when he is showing signs of testosterone deficiency.
Research shows that normal testosterone levels in females are vital to maintaining libido, cognitive function, lean muscle repair and growth, and bone strength. It may also play a role in reducing the risk of certain endocrine cancers. Low levels of testosterone can cause a loss of sexual drive, reduced bone and muscle mass, mood disorders, and may exacerbate symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
Patients on short-acting IM or short-acting SQ pellets (testosterone cypionate or enanthate) should have their testosterone measured after several cycles such that testosterone level equilibration has been achieved. The Panel recommends that this be completed no earlier than three to four cycles. While no data exist on the optimal timing of the blood draw within a cycle, it has historically been recommended that blood draws be conducted mid-cycle. The main driving force behind such a strategy is convenience for patients and clinicians, although such timing has no ability to define peak and trough levels. In addition to issues relating to the reliability of compounded products themselves, appropriate clinical studies on pharmacokinetics are lacking. As such, even if consistent testosterone levels could be achieved, providers issuing prescriptions for compounded testosterone need to consider performing additional monitoring and dose adjustments to ensure appropriate therapeutic levels. There are limited data in men on active surveillance who are candidates for testosterone therapy.
Some men go to their doctor’s office to receive testosterone injections. Frequency can vary from one injection every week to one injection every 10 weeks. (Most men have an injection every 2 weeks.) Shots may be placed just under the skin or directly into a muscle.
For the treatment of low testosterone in men who wish to conceive children, SERMs (clomiphene or tamoxifen) are usually the first choice due to its ease of use (it comes in pill form) and relatively low cost. Historically, clomiphene was the more commonly used SERM, but in 2023 production of the generic form of clomiphene was stopped for some reason. Brand name clomiphene (Clomid) is still available but it is much more expensive- the use of tamoxifen has therefore picked up recently since the mechanisms of action is similar but the price is much lower. When your testosterone level is low, you may not be able to get or keep an erection. Testosterone fuels the male sex drive, so when you’re running low, you may lose interest in sex. With a decrease in testosterone comes the possibility of weight gain. Fortunately, working out to lose excess weight can help to boost testosterone and lessen the effects of LT symptoms.
Sign up for the Healthy Living e-newsletter to receive the latest resources on how to manage and thrive with diabetes. Younger women with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes are more likely to go through menopause earlier in life. You can also ask about a referral to visit an endocrinologist or urologist who specializes in treating conditions like low testosterone. If you have type 2 diabetes, you are twice as likely to suffer from low testosterone boosting foods for men (https://hcgbeilstein.de/) as a man without diabetes. According to the American Urological Association, about 2 out of 5 men over age 45 and 3 out of 10 men older than 70 have low testosterone. How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from? After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study.
