Low Testosterone in Women: Causes and Treatments

Low Testosterone Low T: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Two blood tests are required to ensure an accurate diagnosis of low testosterone. Since testosterone levels can naturally fluctuate due to various factors, a second blood test confirms these results. This two-step process minimises the risk of false positives and provides a solid basis for any necessary treatment.

Regaining fertility is not guaranteed, but it is possible for some patients depending on their age and duration of testosterone use. The first step is to end any testosterone therapy and get baseline lab tests to know where your levels truly are. Often, we find that the patient’s LH production has been suppressed. If you have low blood levels of testosterone AND symptoms that affect your daily life, your doctor may suggest taking supplemental testosterone. You may want to see a specialist to discuss the risks and possible benefits of treatment. Look for a urologist or an endocrinologist, a doctor who treats hormone problems. The body requires testosterone to develop the penis and testicles.

Since testosterone normally decreases with age, your doctor can help determine whether your symptoms are from low testosterone and whether you could benefit from treatment. Enter a new era of testosterone health at our digital clinic, led by experts in hormone therapy. We provide comprehensive testing, lifestyle evaluations, testosterone treatments, and dedicated support to revitalise your health. Testosterone replacement therapy is sometimes needed to treat low T, especially if symptoms are severe and interfere with your quality of life.

Testing can be done to determine if you have a problem and what steps you can take to fix it. You may have noticed that you don’t have as much energy as before, or that you have developed issues during intimacy. This is not something you should be ashamed of – instead, it may be a sign of a larger medical concern. For 100 years, the Endocrine Society has been at the forefront of hormone science and public health.

When you have your testosterone levels tested, or test yourself at home, a healthcare provider will look at both your free testosterone levels and your total testosterone levels. Your total testosterone levels include both free and bound testosterone. A diagnosis of hypogonadism or low T requires two blood tests done on separate days. Your healthcare provider may order other lab tests to look at other sometimes reversible causes of your low testosterone levels.

Without enough sperm, they may not be able to father a child. People assigned male at birth and people assigned female at birth produce testosterone, but this article focuses on symptoms of low testosterone in people assigned male at birth. A primary care physician may refer an individual to a urologist, who specializes in diseases of the male reproductive system, or to an endocrinologist who specializes in hormone-related diseases. When the cells are full of glucose, the body stores the excess in fat cells, which may lead to conditions such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. For example, a bone density test can show diminished bone mass, one result of low testosterone. To diagnose low testosterone, a doctor will often perform a physical evaluation and review the person’s symptoms. The doctor may also request testing to look for additional signs.

If you’re still getting a period, there’s a specific window in your cycle that’s best for measuring testosterone in your blood. You may be affected by primary, secondary, or mixed hypogonadism. People undergoing glucocorticoid therapy can develop the condition. It also can affect people with sickle-cell disease, thalassemia, or alcoholism. Older men with low T have increasingly sought testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in recent years. TRT addresses symptoms such as low libido, poor muscle mass, and low energy. Secondary (or central) hypogonadism (SH) is characterised by low testosterone with low-to-normal LH and FSH levels.

Symptoms may also be caused by other conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. If any of these symptoms are bothering you, talk with your provider. Either type of hypogonadism can be caused by an inherited (congenital) trait or something that happens later in life (acquired), such as an injury or an infection.

Testosterone supplements are nutritional aids designed to support testosterone levels, whereas Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) is a medically supervised treatment for men diagnosed with low testosterone. TRT involves administering testosterone to restore healthy levels of the hormone and alleviate the symptoms of hypogonadism and is often necessary for those who have significantly low testosterone. Our physicians are experienced in treating the complete range of urologic conditions and diseases, from kidney stones and sexual dysfunction to prostate cancer, incontinence and infertility. What is normal for a 20-year-old is not the same normal as for a 60-year-old. Although low testosterone (“low T”) is a diagnosis being promoted by the makers of testosterone medications, it is not as simple as just prescribing hormone replacement. A clinician must also take care not to add testosterone too quickly without exploring other therapies first, because once external testosterone is given, it inhibits the body’s natural ways to increase testosterone in women (esmed.org) production of testosterone.

TRT seems to be more effective in young men with very low testosterone levels. 1) Baseline hematocrit should be performed at the time of repeat blood work after a medication for increased endogenous testosterone replacement has been started (such as SERMs, anastrazole, or HCG). If it is normal at that time, then it is rechecked every six to twelve months while the patient is on the medication. Elevated testosterone levels can cause enlargement of the prostate in some men, especially as they get older.