Testosterone therapy: Potential benefits and risks as you age

Testosterone therapy: Potential benefits and risks as you age

Healthcare professionals consider a person’s symptoms when diagnosing low testosterone levels, but they may need to take a blood test for a conclusive diagnosis. Based on what we find, you may need to undergo a few more tests to determine the cause of your decreased testosterone. Reduced levels of testosterone can result in decreased bone density which elevates your risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. A lower-density skeletal system can also cause a reduction in mobility and independence, which can profoundly impact your ability to move around and perform everyday activities. If you have low testosterone, you may experience fatigue and feel like you have less energy than normal. Because testosterone is critical for the body’s energy production, a decline in testosterone can cause a sense of sluggishness and reduced motivation. Studies show that low testosterone levels in males have an association with type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes.

Sometimes referred to as “andropause,” low testosterone levels are often compared to menopause in women. However, in menopause there is a complete estrogen deficiency causing known clinical side effects. Men have decreased levels of their sex hormone with less obvious clinical consequences.

Get the details about low testosterone, from its symptoms and causes to how it’s diagnosed and treated. Learn who’s most at risk, how long the condition may last, and the possible side effects of hormone therapy. The American Urology Association reports that low testosterone affects around 2 in every 100 men.

From there, testosterone enters the bloodstream and delivers messages throughout your body to help regulate several critical functions and processes. Have you noticed some significant changes in your energy levels, sexual desire, or body composition? Even if you work out regularly or try to stay active, you will likely notice some significant emotional and physical changes if your testosterone levels have dropped. Although low testosterone can affect anyone with testicles at any age, low testosterone is more common as people age. It’s important to know that it is natural for testosterone production typically to decrease with age. The Endocrine Society considers low blood testosterone to be a morning level of less than 300 nanograms per deciliter in adults. Testosterone levels vary throughout the day, so testing these levels at 8 a.m.

The relationship isn’t completely understood, but researchers suspect that testosterone acts as a vasodilator, allowing more blood flow into the penis, says Calvert. Without enough testosterone, blood may not be able to enter the penis and allow it to get rigid enough for sex. With your support, the American Diabetes Association® can continue our lifesaving work to make breakthroughs in research and provide people with the resources they need to fight diabetes. Younger women with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes are more likely to go through menopause earlier in life. Low testosterone disrupts the delicate balance of neurotransmitters that help regulate mood and emotional responses. These mood swings can cause a strain on relationships and overall well-being. The deadline to have twice the impact to advance healthcare research is May 15.

Males with low testosterone ethanate (cultivodesetas.es) may experience extreme fatigue and decreased energy. You may have low T if you’re consistently tired despite getting plenty of sleep or if you find it harder to get motivated to exercise. Regardless of the reason you’re experiencing low testosterone, treatment options are available to increase testosterone or reduce unwanted side effects. If they do, lower testosterone levels may not be the only cause. At this time, it is unclear whether TRT increases the risk of prostate cancer or symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, based on inconclusive data, the FDA does warn of a possible increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

He/she may also measure the red blood cells in the body (hematocrit) to keep a baseline record of red blood cell counts, because they can go up after taking testosterone. If Dr. Grewal determines that you have low testosterone levels, he may recommend testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Available in injection, oral pill, and patch forms, this treatment can effectively restore normal testosterone levels and reduce the symptoms bothering you. No matter how much time they spend in the gym, men with low testosterone levels may notice they are starting to lose muscle mass as they age. Before having sex, testosterone signals the brain to produce nitric oxide, the molecule that helps trigger an erection.

Symptoms can be subtle, but treatment may help if the symptoms affect your lifestyle. This could result from a combination of the irritability, decreased sex drive, and fatigue that can come with low testosterone. For each year over age 30, the level of testosterone in men starts to slowly dip at a rate of around 1 percent per year. Production increases during puberty and starts to decrease after age 30. TRT seems to be more effective in young men with very low testosterone levels. Your provider will likely have you get a blood test to check your testosterone level. These include medicine side effects, thyroid problems, or depression.