Dr. Scumpia says:
1. Make sure your symptoms are indeed Low T and no other medical issues including other hormone imbalances
2. If your testosterone is normal do not accept T treatments form unapproved sources since the treatment in the absence of a firm diagnosis can be harmful
3. If you desire children you need to talk to your physicians about possible conserving your sperm since T treatment may reduce your sperm to very low and even 0.
4. If the diagnosis is being made always ask your physician “ Why is my T low “? There are two main causes for low T : failing testicles and failing pituitary function ( the queen mother glands of all glands) treatments are different depending on the cause
5. Don’t forget that though t treatment is gratifying if you do have a diagnosis of Low T ( hypogonadism ) however as with anything else in medicine it may have side effects
6. Side effects include : thick blood (Polycythemia), aggravation of sleep apnea, low sperm count, May or may not be related to Prostate cancer, May or may not affect the cardiovascular system and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes ( in patients who already had an event)
7. Be careful with the treatment if you had a history of prostate cancer or a history of stroke or heart attack
How to Tell if Your T is lower Than Normal
Many men with low testosterone don’t have symptoms. A True low T diagnosis requires low Free Testosterone. Free Testosterone is the Testosterone that is not bound to a protein. Most “T clinics” only test Total Testosterone and neglect to test for Free Testosterone. Your total Testosterone naturally fluctuates throughout the day with the highest in the morning. Only a blood test can tell what your testosterone levels are. The Endocrine Society considers 300 to 1,200 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) normal and less than 300 low (Total Testosterone)
Testosterone travels through your blood in two ways:
- Attached to the proteins albumin and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)
- Free — not attached to any proteins
To diagnose certain conditions, doctors sometimes look only at free testosterone levels.
Low Sex Drive
It’s normal to have a lower sex drive and fewer spontaneous erections as you age. But little or no libido can be a sign that you have low testosterone. Research suggests that almost 40% of men ages 45 and older seen in a doctor’s office may have low testosterone.Because the symptoms of low testosterone can be vague and because men don’t always mention their symptoms to their doctors, the actual number of men with low testosterone levels may be higher.
Is Low T a normal part of aging?
A decline in testosterone levels is normal with aging. Low testosterone levels are levels that are considerably lower than what’s normal for your age. That’s not a normal part of aging. It can affect your quality of life and health. And it can be remedied.
Signs of Low T
Low testosterone can alter some typical masculine features in men. Painful breasts or breast enlargement may suggest low testosterone in men. Other signs are losing body hair and having to shave less frequently. Also, your testicles may be smaller when testosterone is low, and it may be difficult to get or keep an erection. Hot flashes are most often seen in men who have very low testosterone.
Low T Can Affect Your Bone Health
Testosterone doesn’t just relate to sex. It helps build bone, and low testosterone can lead to frail bones and osteoporosis. Testosterone may also help keep muscles strong. It helps produce red blood cells, boosts mood, and aids thinking. Low testosterone may cause anemia, depression, and trouble concentrating.
Erectile Dysfunction
Low testosterone can be a cause of erectile dysfunction (ED) — the inability to get or keep an erection — and testosterone therapy may help treat it. But in some cases, testosterone treatment does not improve ED symptoms because there are other causes. For example, diseases of the nerves and blood vessels can also affect the penis and cause ED. If you have ED, talk to your doctor.
Bodybuilder Steroids Lower Your Testosterone
Anabolic steroids, often used by athletes and weightlifters, mimic the body’s natural testosterone in bulking up muscles. But using them can actually lower testosterone. Excess anabolic steroids may also increase aggression in men, cause severe acne or trembling, shrink testicles and sperm count, and cause baldness.
Male Pattern Baldness Medicine Can Increase Your Testosterone
Finasertide, used to treat male pattern baldness, can increase testosterone blood levels. Other drugs can lower testosterone. These include corticosteroids such as prednisone, used for inflammatory conditions, and long-acting narcotics, like oxycodone and morphine. Drugs used to treat advanced prostate cancer can also lower testosterone levels.
Sleep Apnea
Testosterone replacement therapy may make some medical conditions worse, such as sleep apnea, which causes pauses in breathing during sleep. It is not recommended for men with severe sleep apnea, severe benign prostatic hypertrophy, or lower urinary tract infections. Other illnesses that don’t mix with testosterone therapy include prostate cancer, male breast cancer, and congestive heart failure that is uncontrolled or poorly controlled.
Alcoholism
Alcohol is directly toxic to the testicles, where testosterone is produced, and it seems to affect the release of other hormones related to men’s sexual function and fertility. Shrunken testicles are a common sign of low testosterone in alcoholic men with liver disease, as well as lower libido and sexual potency. Enlarged breasts are common in heavy drinkers because alcohol may help convert testosterone into the female hormone estrogen.
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