Testosterone is the male hormone that is responsible for developing the testes during puberty. It contributes to male attributes such as facial hair and a deepened voice, while affecting a man’s libido and even his mood. After the age of 30, a man’s testosterone levels naturally begin to decrease. This regression is usually gradual and spread out over the rest of his life. Let’s talk about some causes and symptoms of low testosterone.
In some cases though, the levels drop rapidly, which leads to a host of symptoms. Some of these may include:
- Diminished sexual desire
- Clinical depression
- Less energy or chronic fatigue
- Loss of bone density which will appear as a loss of height
- Decreased strength due to depleted muscle mass
- Weaker erections
- Obesity, type 2 diabetes, or problems with the thyroid
- Less semen during ejaculation
- Testicle shrinkage or numbness in the testicles
- Erectile dysfunction
Among the known causes of low testosterone, medical experts have defined three main factors. They believe the condition originates either in the testes, pituitary gland, or the hypothalamus of the brain. Low testosterone in relation to the testes can occur due to a number of reasons. This can include undescended testicles, injury to the testicles cancer therapy in response to testicular cancer, aging, contracting the mumps in puberty or adulthood which leads to inflammation of the testes or even genetic conditions, such as a chromosome abnormality.
When low testosterone is a result of a condition in the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, doctors may seek out one of the following:
- Damage to the pituitary gland caused by a tumor
- A malformed hypothalamus
- A decrease in blood flow to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus
- The existence of the HIV or AIDS virus because either one may inflame the pituitary gland or hypothalamus
- We may also ask if you’ve used anabolic steroids or have been battling with obesity, because both factors can interfere with the body’s natural production of testosterone
The first test our doctors will perform when you come into the office is a blood screening to determine where your testosterone levels are at. In some cases they may be already be dangerously low before any of the more serious symptoms have become apparent.
Whether your symptoms have begun to impair your quality of life or not, we always recommend that you pursue some type of treatment plan. Ignoring low testosterone can lead to more serious conditions over time such as a weakening of bone and muscle mass. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms and would like to learn more, please contact us for an appointment today. You can click here to fill out a form or dial (973) 998-7770.
It is our philosophy that men should always feel like they are 25 years old. The old school of thought was that men’s hormones decline as they age, but actually, men will age because of low, unregulated hormone levels!
Our center develops a personalized program based on a compressive health evaluation and extensive lab analysis that will allow us to guide you in a balanced nutritional, dietary, exercise, and BHRT (Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy) healthy way of life.
