Low Testosterone?

Are you feeling depressed? Hair Loss? Fatigue? Difficulty sleeping?

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Low Testosterone? What is Testosterone?

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Testosterone is a steroid hormone secreted in the testicles of males and ovaries of females. It is naturally low in females but is the principal sex hormone in males.

Testosterone helps to:

  • stimulate sperm production
  • maintain sexual function
  • maintain reproductive tissues
  • Increase muscle mass
  • Maintain bone strength

Just as though there are numbers associated with blood pressure levels, there are also numbers associated with testosterone levels (T-levels). There is a normal range for T-levels, this is where the brain and the testicles work together to achieve this balance. If the T-level is below the normal range then the brain signals the testicles to make more and when the T-levels reach a normal level, the brain signals the testicles to make less.

Symptoms of Low Testosterone

  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Reduced sex drive
  • Decreased energy
  • Loss of body hair
  • Depressed mood
  • Increase in abdominal fat
  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Decrease in bone strength
  • Reduced muscle mass
What causes Low Testosterone?

It is normal for when male ages his testosterone levels falls; however having your testosterone levels below a particular range is generally not considered normal.

The following are factors that can influence having low testosterone levels:

  • Obesity: testosterone is normally converted to estrogen in fat cells to help maintain bone density. Estrogen is a hormone associated with women. The more fat cells you have, the more testosterone is being converted to estrogen, hence resulting in lower testosterone levels.
  • Injury to the testicles: If your testicles have been injured, sometimes the injury may cause the male to be unable to produce the amount of testosterone the body needs.
  • Chemotherapy: This therapy can damage cells in the testes. This may be temporary or permanent.
  • Head trauma/tumors: These conditions can also affect the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, regions of the brain that signals the testicles.
  • Inflammation: There are some conditions and disease that may affect the pituitary gland and/or hypothalamus because of inflammation, diseases such as: HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and histiocytosis.
Treatment

Each treatment is different and is recommended depending on the patient’s case.

The available FDA approved treatment includes:

  • Gels and solutions: These are topical treatment applied daily and absorbed into the body through the skin.
  • Patches
  • Injections
  • Buccal tablets
  • Pellets

Talk with your physician today if you are experiencing similar symptoms labeled above, or if you have any concerns about low testosterone levels.

Reference:
What Causes Low Testosterone?
Causes of Low Testosterone