Low T, Big Impact: Tips for Diagnosing Hypogonadism

Major Factors That Cause Low Testosterone, According to Doctors

Therefore, if a person has early prostate cancer, there is concern that testosterone may stimulate the cancer’s growth. So males with low testosterone, especially those who are older, have lower bone volume and are more susceptible to bone fractures. Males with low T often report extreme fatigue and insulin fasting blood test decrease in energy levels. This can include having undescended testicles from early childhood that were never corrected or Klinefelter syndrome, an abnormality of sex chromosomes, according to the Mayo Clinic. The relationship between weight and testosterone is a “vicious cycle,” Dr. Nall says. Low testosterone can cause fatigue and even depression, which likely decreases someone’s urge to work out or generally stay active, which can affect weight. Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss…from exercises to build a stronger core to advice on treating cataracts.

Research suggests that as you age and your testosterone levels gradually drop, you may also experience a decrease in the size of your testicles. Both testosterone levels and cognitive functions, particularly memory, decline with age. As a result, doctors have theorized that lower testosterone levels may contribute to affected memory. Low testosterone (male hypogonadism) is a condition in which your testicles don’t produce enough testosterone (the male sex hormone). More specifically, the Leydig cells in your testicles make testosterone. “For the majority of men, they will need to go onto testosterone replacement therapy.

However, these results are limited because the data are derived from military service members and individuals with pathological conditions such as prostate cancer. Therefore, these retrospective results might lack some degree of generalizability beyond former service members and patients with prostate cancer. Testosterone is a hormone that can affect appearance and sexual development, stimulate sperm production and sex drive, and help build muscle and bone mass. It’s typically produced by the testicles in people assigned male at birth. Some of the most apparent symptoms of low testosterone could include ED, lowered sex drive, depression, difficulties focusing on tasks, and an increase in body weight.

Males experience a gradual decrease in testosterone as they get older. The older you are, the more likely that you’ll have low testosterone. Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for low testosterone.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause testosterone deficiency. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a common treatment for low testosterone. People with low testosterone, especially older males, may have lower bone volume and be more susceptible to bone fractures. In people with fertility problems, low testosterone may be a symptom of a testicular function issue causing infertility rather than a cause of infertility itself. However, anyone who experiences one or more of the above symptoms should seek medical attention. A male with low testosterone may notice a reduction in the size of their testicles that is not related to cold temperatures.

In both males and females, low testosterone can lead to lower bone mass and reduced sex drive. A retrospective cohort study from the U.S. showed that testosterone replacement in men with hypogonadism significantly increased the risk of urolithiasis [25]. In another retrospective case‒control study from Taiwan, androgen deprivation in prostate cancer patients reduced the subsequent development of kidney stones [26]. These two retrospective studies suggest that testosterone might induce urinary stones.

The prevalence of nephrolithiasis is increasing worldwide [1, 2], and the recurrence rate is close to 50% [3]. Additionally, urinary stones have a negative impact on quality of life and impose a significant economic burden on patients and health care systems. In addition to conventional TRT, explains Dr Foster, there are also other medications in use that are not strictly external testosterone, “but that can be used to increased to testosterone levels”. These include clomiphene tablets, taken daily, or HCG (human chorionic gonaotropin) injections, given 2-4 times per week. It will likely stop sperm production and therefore is not administered to men trying to start a family. Some patients can also experience acne or oily skin, or male pattern hair loss. However, it’s important to note that TRT should not be used for teenage males with typical testosterone levels to enhance puberty or athletic performance.

Accordingly, AST and ALT were adjusted as parameters of fatty liver disease in this analysis [22]. Additionally, high protein intake, which in turn increases serum albumin [23], is related to the development of nephrolithiasis [24]. Hence, the serum albumin level was adjusted as a parameter of high protein intake to elucidate the association between testosterone and nephrolithiasis.

Low testosterone levels are common in men who have sleep apnea. This potentially severe disorder causes a person to temporarily stop breathing, which can disrupt sleep. Males may experience specific symptoms of low testosterone levels. 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.