Testosterone is a sex hormone commonly identified with males though females have small amounts of it too. Erectile dysfunction is one of the symptoms of low testosterone in men, and both men and women may also have decreased bone mass and sex drive.
The testicles create the hormone testosterone. Testosterone influences how you look and develop sexually, the development of a deeper voice, hair growth, and other aesthetic characteristics, increases sperm count and sex drive and aids in the development of bone and muscle mass.
Erections may be challenging to obtain or maintain when testosterone levels are low. Erectile dysfunction, however, is not necessarily directly related to insufficient testosterone. It might be challenging for persons with high testosterone levels to get erections, and the opposite is true for those with low testosterone levels.
Nitric oxide is produced because of testosterone stimulates the penile tissues to do so. This triggers a chain of events that leads to an erection. A man might not be able to get an erection if the hormone levels are too low.
With age, testosterone production normally declines. About 40% of males aged 45 and older have low testosterone, according to the American Urological Association.
Many elderly persons encounter the symptoms of low testosterone because testosterone production decreases as a person matures.
Low Testosterone: How Common Is It?
Nearly 40% of males who are 45 years of age and older have low testosterone. Normal testosterone levels are hard to pin down since they fluctuate throughout the day and are influenced by factors like body mass index (BMI), diet, alcohol intake, certain medications, age, and sickness.
Causes of Low Testosterone Levels
Typically, testosterone production starts to decline after menopause and at the age of 30. Younger individuals, however, could also have low testosterone levels.
Any age can be affected by hypogonadism, a disorder in which the testicles generate little to no testosterone in males.
The following conditions can result in hypogonadism:
- illness or damage to the testicles, which includes injury or trauma resulting in the interrupted blood supply to the testes or orchitis (infection of the testes)
- cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapies
- conditions affecting the pituitary gland or other hormones
- drugs like corticosteroids and opiate painkillers
- inherited disorders like Klinefelter syndrome (a genetic condition in which a male is born with an extra copy of the X chromosome). Also called XXY syndrome
- drug and alcohol abuse
Low testosterone levels in females can be caused by things like:
- inadequate adrenal gland function
- ovarian removal by surgery
- using an oral estrogen supplement or estrogen excess
Other causes of low testosterone levels are:
- stress
- HIV/AIDS
- kidney diseases or chronic renal (kidney) failure
- cirrhosis of the liver
- autoimmune diseases
- infections
- obesity or extreme loss of weight
- metabolic syndromes such as hemochromatosis (too much iron in the body)
- prior surgery of the brain or radiation exposure
- severe primary hypothyroidism
- delay in puberty
- aging
Various symptoms could appear if your testosterone production suddenly lowers. Low testosterone can show up in a variety of subtle ways, such as:
- low sex drive
- erectile problems
- lesser sense of well-being or gloomy attitude
- having trouble focusing and remembering
- fatigue
- irritability and depression
- sluggishness
Low testosterone causes further changes in the body, including:
- low hemoglobin levels and moderate anemia
- a decrease in body hair
- thinned-out bones (osteoporosis)
- increase in body fat
- development of breasts (gynecomastia)
- Infertility
Your chance of contracting various illnesses may rise if you have low testosterone levels. These conditions include:
- osteoporosis
- diabetes
- heart conditions
The usual range of testosterone concentrations is 300 to 1,000 ng/dL. When testosterone levels are below 300 ng/dL, it is considered low. Your testosterone level can be assessed using a blood test called a serum testosterone test.
To identify the reason for low testosterone, more testing might be carried out.
Among the tests used to identify low testosterone and its causes are as follows:
- serum testosterone
- luteinizing hormone
- blood prolactin level
When To See a Doctor
Low testosterone does not always cause symptoms, and for some people, only a basic physical examination and blood tests can reveal the condition.
Best not to take chances where our health is concerned, and anyone who notices one or more of the aforementioned symptoms should contact a doctor as soon or as early as possible.
A doctor will frequently do a physical examination and evaluate the patient’s symptoms in order to identify low testosterone. In order to seek more indicators, the doctor could also ask for other tests.
If you are experiencing some of the symptoms already listed here, it is best to consult your healthcare provider for your peace of mind. More specific and detailed information on the causes of low testosterone levels is available in testosterone clinical trials. Do check them out to get useful, relevant, and helpful health information.