Low Testosterone

What is Testosterone?

Testosterone is a sex hormone that plays a major role in male sexual development and fertility. Varying levels of testosterone within a man’s body will affect many bodily functions, including:

  • The production of both body and facial hair
  • Muscle strength
  • Sexual drive

Causes of Low Testosterone

It is completely natural for testosterone levels to decrease with age, leaving approximately half of men over the age of 80 with low testosterone (Low-T). Other common factors that lead to Low-T include:

  • Obesity
  • Medication Side Effect
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Injury or infection of the testes
  • Congenital conditions
  • Side effects of chemotherapy or radiation treatments
  • Issues with the pituitary gland
  • An existing autoimmune disease
  • A prior diagnosis of HIV or AIDS

Typical Symptoms of Low-T

We have discussed how testosterone levels contribute toward a man’s sexual health, which is why it makes sense that low testosterone levels would result in impaired sexual function.

In addition to a decrease in sexual desire and problems with erectile dysfunction, individuals with Low-T will also often experience:

  • Loss of body or facial hair
  • Constant fatigue
  • Decreased amounts of lean muscle mass
  • Signs of depression
  • Weight gain
  • Cognitive Difficulties 

Treatments for Low Testosterone

There are a wide variety of treatment options for low testosterone. Depending upon the particular patient and their case, natural options such as exercise and a new diet plan may be sufficient in boosting testosterone levels.

Some form of hormone replacement therapy is another popular option when it comes to treating Low-T. These may be in the form of an oral/intranasal medication, injection, or as hormone pellets. Each patient will have different techniques for testosterone administration based on their personal preference and lifestyle.

The best way to begin treatment for low testosterone is to see a specialist and to discuss your options with them.

To get better educated, check out our UroCoach’s catalog of videos on low testosterone!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR18WiqMKENfUJIbLMtyIMpgMKV9PPQiY&si=1HM-xZ323WZvygkc