There's no one-time fix for low testosterone. However, consistent hormone replacement therapy helps improve sex drive, ease symptoms of depression and increase energy levels for many people assigned male at birth (AMAB) experiencing low testosterone. Treatment may also boost muscle mass and bone density.
Most cases of low testosterone are treatable, and being aware of the symptoms can help a person receive an early diagnosis and treatment.
Most men feel improvement in symptoms within four to six weeks of taking testosterone replacement therapy, although changes like increases in muscle mass may take from three to six months.
Testosterone levels naturally decline with age, but some measures may slow, or perhaps reverse, the process. They include staying active, getting enough sleep, and limiting alcohol use. Some supplements may also help.
Low Testosterone can Occur Because of Aging or an Underlying Condition. While getting older is generally the main cause of low testosterone in many men, low T levels can also be a symptom of other underlying conditions or comorbidities.
Testing for low T
A simple blood test can confirm your testosterone level. The bottom of a man's normal total testosterone range is about 300 ng/dL, and the upper limit is about 800ng/dL, depending on the lab. In general, levels below 300 ng/dL combined with symptoms are indicators of testosterone deficiency.
If you suffer from low testosterone, treatment options are available that can help return your testosterone levels to normal. To put it simply, low testosterone isn't something that has to be permanent. With proper treatment and some lifestyle changes, you can overcome the troubling symptoms associated with low T.
Millions of men live with a testosterone deficiency. If left unchecked, this treatable condition may contribute to serious health problems like osteoporosis and lowered red blood cell production.
If your T levels are low, there are a few ways to give them a lift. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may be needed to get levels back up to the normal range, but you can also increase testosterone naturally. If your T is too low, a host of problems can crop up.
Untreated testosterone deficiency will greatly increase your risk for developing heart disease, osteoporosis, and other age-related diseases.
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is most common. This involves using man-made hormones. There are several forms that your doctor can prescribe. They include gel, a patch, or an injection.
Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is caused by a genetic alteration that means the body cannot respond to testosterone either completely or partially. Testosterone is the sex hormone produced by the testicles.
A man's ability to produce testosterone starts to decline at about 40 years of age, and levels continue to drop 1 – 3% a year thereafter. It is important to note that just because the levels are dropping after 40 doesn't necessarily mean that all men are candidates for therapy.
Nearly 39 percent of men ages 45 years and older have low testosterone, also known as hypogonadism, which is generally defined as a level below 300 nanograms per deciliter.
As men age, the ability to produce testosterone begins to decline such that testosterone levels begin to drop about 1 to 3 percent a year beginning around age 40 years.
Low Testosterone levels affect 1 in every 4 men over the age of 30 and affects 13 million men in the United States.
Testosterone levels naturally decline as you age. While testosterone therapy can be an option, it has disadvantages as well. Some older men on testosterone therapy could face increased cardiac risks. You may be interested in natural testosterone boosters instead.
Lower testosterone levels are associated with higher risk of death in men.
On average, men's scores increased from 12.1 to 19.8 with Viagra. The men's testosterone levels also rose on Viagra, according to the findings published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine.