Low Testosterone: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Testosterone is a male and female sex hormone that is vital in the development of sexual and reproductive processes. Male testosterone is part of a class of hormones that are known as androgens. Testosterone cells produced mainly in the testes, with minuscule amounts made in the adrenal glands. Its production and functions are controlled by the hypothalamus system in the brain and the body's pituitary gland. This partnership is communicated through chemicals and hormones in the body's blood stream system. Testosterone hormone for men helps with their sex drive, sperm production, distribution of fat, red blood cell production, and muscle strength and mass maintenance. For men who may have low testosterone, this is only revealed by physicians, who can administer a blood test to measure the testosterone ranges. Low testosterone is considered to be below 300 nanogrms per deciliter.

Symptoms of Low Testosterone

The National Institutes of Health identifies the following conditions, as possible symptoms of low male testosterone:

• Bones becoming prone to fracture

• Depression, irritability and inability to concentrate

• Erectile dysfunction or impotence

• Hot flashes

• Increased breast size

• Loss of muscle mass

• Lowered sperm count

• Reduced sex drive

• Shrunken and softened testes

Even though low testosterone symptoms can stem from other conditions, only a doctor's exam can truly determine this condition. The symptoms of low testosterone have a tendency to develop gradually, which is why many men tend to ignore them. Additional low testosterone symptoms include:

• Mental fogginess/fuzziness

• Difficulty concentrating

• Anxiety

• Weight gain

• Decreased facial hair

• Decreased pubic hair

• A general feeling of not caring about anything from day to day

• Poor sleep quality (leading to sleep deprivation)

Causes of Low Testosterone

Urologists understand that the causes of low testosterone is a part of a three tier category, known as primary, secondary, and tertiary. The primary causes involve the testicles; the secondary tier occurs in the pituitary gland; and the tertiary cause affects the hypothalamus. Congenital disorders (a disease or physical abnormality present from birth) are among the more prominent causes of low testosterone. This includes the Klinefelter's Syndrom involving the X and Y chromosomes at birth, where conditions are formed called anorchism and cryptorchidism. Low testosterone conditions that occur after birth can also cause low testosterone. This involves the possibility of the removal of the testes and any conditions that affect the hypothalamic, pituitary, and gonadal glands. Chemotherapy, radiation treatment, surgical damage, head trauma, brain infections, testicular tumors are all conditions that can cause low T. Low testosterone is not an aberrated condition, there are 4 to 5 million American men who suffer from this condition. Additional causes of low testosterone, includes:

• physical injury to the testicles

• mumps orchitis

• pituitary disorders caused by drugs, kidney failure, or small tumors

• Kallmann syndrome, a condition connected to abnormal hypothalamus function

• inflammatory diseases, such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, and histiocytosis, which can impact the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus

• HIV/AIDS

• normal aging

• diseases like sickle-cell, alcoholism, thalassemia

• obesity: High body fat can affect hormone production and response.

• medications: Opioid pain meds and steroids can affect function of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus.

Treatments for Low Testosterone

Any treatments for possible low testosterone problems, should be a carefully formulated treatment plan to evaluate the options that are right for you. Testosterone replacement therapy is the key treatment for low T in young men and adult males. Replacement therapies are available in many different forms:

• Transdermal: this is a skin patch that is applied onto the skin once a day

• Gels: popular brand clear testosterone gel is absorbed into the skin when applied once a day. Some brand named gels are applied in different ways like a brand that is applied inside the nose.

• Pumps: pumps are used to deliver a certain amount for your condition, by your doctor.

• Mouth Patch: the dissolving mouth patch is to be applied to the upper gums near the incisor, twice a day, where it releases testosterone into the blood system through the oral tissues.

• Injections and Implants: Testosterone hormones are injected into the muscles or implanted as pellets beneath the skin's soft tissues, as it is absorbed into the bloodstream.

You will notice that testosterone pills are not recognized by urologists or researchers. This is because many medical specialists believe that pills would have too much of a negative effect on the liver. The methods identified above are the safest and the more direct route for testosterone to enter the bloodstream for a more immediate healing of symptoms caused by low T.

Complications of Low Testosterone

Any complications of low Testosterone will vary among men. The more common complications include depression, low sex drive, less muscle mass, less bone density, infertility, erectile dysfunction, and losing the desire to even engage in sexual activity. Low or decreased testosterone levels also has a profound effect on insulin resistance which great affects men with diabetes. Current research has shown that men with diabetes, who have low T levels are more prone to develop hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) which is a key factor to heart attacks. The mood swings that can occur due to low T in men, can also contribute to improper fat distribution, mainly in the abdomen area.

Can Low Testosterone Be Prevented?

Age is a contributing natural factor for low testosterone, but right now we can't prevent aging. Also, there are illnesses and diseases that cause low T and this can't be prevented. However, incorporating exercise into your daily life, plays a key role in diminishing many symptoms associated with low testosterone levels. There is no one particular type of exercise that men need to focus on, because every type of exercise has its advantages in combating low testosterone symptoms. Exercise can help reduce obesity, even in men with diabetes. Keeping the body moving also helps to alleviate mood swing, heart disease, reduced sex drive, low energy levels, and it can increase muscle mass.

Summary

There was a t-shirt worn by a middle aged man that read “don't fear the low-T.” This a great philosophy for men, no matter what the causes are of low testosterone. Men who feel fine, still need to have annual checkups to avoid surprises that could cause anxiety. Men over 34 should be checked for low testosterone and heart disease every five years. There is nothing better than a preventive health check every two years until age 50, and then once a year for a healthy long sex life and a healthy physical and mental life span.