Low Testosterone: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Hypogonadism in Men

However, new treatments are being studied that may provide help to women affected by low testosterone levels. 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. Low testosterone levels can affect your libido and cause physical changes, sleep issues, and trouble with emotional regulation. Treatment can increase testosterone levels or treat symptoms. You can be born with male hypogonadism, or it can develop later in life, often from injury or infection.

Testosterone comes in several forms, including shots, gels, patches, and tablets you place on your gums. Injections are the least expensive option, but they can be painful. You take the shots every 2 to 4 weeks, as prescribed by your doctor.

Men who are no longer interested in conceiving may benefit from safe, monitored testosterone replacement therapy. Some patients with genetic issues that cause subfertility, such as Klinefelter’s syndrome, may also benefit. If you have low testosterone and the symptoms bother you, a doctor may recommend testosterone replacement therapy. Some research suggests that hot flashes may be a symptom of very low testosterone levels.

Get treatment for sleep apnea, try to get diabetes and high blood pressure under control, and try to lose weight if you are obese. A more recent article pimple on testicle sack testerone replacement therapy for male hypogonadism is available. Low testosterone that causes symptoms usually is treated with testosterone hormone.

As a result, primary care physicians are seeing more patients like the one described above. This definition was proposed to help clinicians identify aging men with low testosterone who could potentially benefit from hormonal replacement therapy. The purpose of this article is to review the data on LOH, also known as low T, and present the most recent evidence and recommendations regarding the approach to the patient from our case scenario. First, your healthcare provider does a physical examination and talks to you about your symptoms and medical history.

As a man ages, the amount of testosterone produced in his body gradually drops. This natural decline starts after age 30 and continues at a rate of about 1% per year throughout his life. Innovative, expert urology care at the Desai Sethi Urology Institute. Our team of urology experts delivers advanced care for all urologic conditions.

4) A baseline DEXA scan should be considered for men with a total testosterone of under 200 ng/dL. The scan should be repeated every one to two years thereafter. 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. This involves providing androgens directly in the form of hormone replacement (injections, patches, gels, pellets), anabolic steroids, prohormones, or testosterone boosters.

Both testosterone levels and cognitive functions—such as memory—decline with age. As a result, doctors have speculated that lower testosterone levels could contribute to affected memory. Erection problems in general are thought to be more of a byproduct of issues with blood vessels and nerves.