Compared - Quick Advice In low testosterone

There's a fantastic reason guys go girl-crazy in their teens and twenties: helpful sitevisit this site Their testosterone levels are at their peak. From that point, though, testosterone levels gradually this article decrease.

"After age 30, most men begin to experience a gradual decline in testosterone," says David Samadi, MD, chairman of the urology department at Lenox Hill Hospital in nyc.

Although testosterone levels never reach zero (as estrogen levels do in women during menopause), low testosterone levels men to experience symptoms such as fatigue, low libido, and loss of muscle mass.

While reduced testosterone is more common in older men, it may occur in younger guys as well. Luckily, all the causes of low testosterone in young men are curable, so if you encounter such symptoms at any age, there is no reason to dismiss it.

Causes of Low Testosterone in Younger Men

For younger guys, a drop in testosterone levels may be brought on by some ailments, such as type 2 diabetes, chronic liver or kidney disease, COPD or other lung disorder, or pituitary gland problems, based on Dr. Samadi.

Genetic causes of low testosterone in men include the diseases Klinefelter syndrome, Kallmann syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and Myotonic dystrophy. Another disease which can result in low testosterone is hemochromatosis, which makes the body store too much iron.

"Low testosterone can also result when something happens, like trauma or steroid use, that prevents the testes from making the hormone," states Bruce Gilbert, MD, PhD, an adjunct clinical professor of urology and reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and director of reproductive and sexual medicine at the Smith Institute for Urology of their North Shore-LIJ Health System.

Additional causes of low testosterone in males younger than 50 include pituitary gland tumors, HIV infection, and radiation therapy or chemotherapy for cancer.

Doctors categorize causes of low testosterone as primary or secondary.

"Primary hypogonadism stems from a problem in the testicles," Samadi says. In secondary hypogonadism, the testicles are normal but function improperly because of a problem with the hypothalamus or pituitary gland."

Is It Low Testosterone?

Irrespective of the reason, low testosterone symptoms are the same.

"Symptoms include low libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, decreased mental acuity, and moodiness," Dr. Gilbert says.

"Younger men with low testosterone usually come to me and say, ‘I can't work out like I used to, and I've lost interest in sex.' ”

If you suspect low testosterone, the first step is to see your primary care physician.

If your blood test reveals low testosterone (usually defined as a level lower than 300 ng/dL), the doctor may treat you or refer you to a specialist, such as an urologist or endocrinologist.

Treatments for Low Testosterone in Younger Men

Not everyone with low testosterone needs treatment. "When it comes to treating low testosterone in older guys, we generally reserve treatment for people who have symptoms, such as fatigue and low libido," Gilbert says.


In these circumstances,"treatments are often used just in the short term, and when a doctor has close observation and knowledge of the patient," Gilbert says.

An important consideration for younger men before getting treatment is fertility. "You don't want to give supplemental testosterone to men who want to be fertile because it can turn off sperm production," Gilbert says.

Once a young man goes off testosterone supplementation, there's a chance his sperm count will never return to what it was before he started. "Therefore, men of reproductive age should consider alternatives which may increase their testosterone as well as preserve their semen production," he states. 1 such choice is a class of drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs).

Other treatments for low testosterone include weight loss and other lifestyle changes, such as eating healthy and raising exercise.

The bottom line, though, is that if you've got low testosterone symptoms, then it's important to see your doctor. Then, your doctor can rule out more serious causes of your symptoms, such as hypertension or a thyroid problem, and give treatment that can improve your power and high quality of life.

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