Testosterone: How to Test it, and What to Do if Low?
What is testosterone?
Testosterone, the male sex hormone, plays a crucial role in puberty and fertility. Testosterone is produced in the testicles in men and in the ovaries in women. Men tend to have higher testosterone levels, which are thought to influence the development of traits such as body hair, bone mass, and muscle mass.
Low testosterone levels in men
Testosterone levels in men usually increase around age 19 and tend to decrease after age 30. However, some men have abnormally low testosterone levels. About 40% of men tend to have abnormally low scores after 45. These low levels can cause several symptoms.
Symptoms of low testosterone
The American Urology Association has identified low blood testosterone levels as less than 300 ng/dL. The symptoms of low testosterone levels can adversely affect the body and affect the quality of life. These symptoms include:
- decreased body hair
- low sex drive
- decreased muscle mass
- growth of breast tissue
- erectile dysfunction
If you experience any of these symptoms, you need to see your doctor who will test your testosterone levels.
Causes of low testosterone levels in men
The causes of low testosterone levels in men are:
- delayed puberty
- Hypothalamic Disease
- Testicular damage (caused by trauma or alcoholism)
- benign pituitary tumor
- pituitary disease
Genetic diseases such as myotonic dystrophy, Kallmann syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome can also affect testosterone levels.
testosterone test
Assessing low testosterone levels begins with a visit to a family doctor. A testosterone test is done to measure your testosterone levels in the blood. Therefore, a testosterone test usually involves a blood test. To test your hormone levels, your doctor will give you a specific time, which is usually in the morning, when hormone levels are at their highest. The test can be performed more than once.
Your doctor may also ask you to stop taking certain medications that can affect your testosterone levels. Therefore, it is very important that you tell your doctor about all your medications.
Your doctor may ask about your health history, such as: B. Family history of diseases related to Low-T, stroke, opiate use, etc. This may be followed by a physical exam, showing prostate size and abnormalities, hair pattern, BMI or waist circumference, etc. The following blood tests may also be done; Total testosterone levels, blood prolactin levels, blood hemoglobin, etc.
Apart from that, at-home test kits are also available. These are provided by companies like LetsGetChecked etc. and can be purchased online. You use your saliva to test hormone levels, afterwards; The sample is sent to a laboratory for testing.
What to do with low testosterone levels?
In the case of low testosterone or abnormal hormone levels, you have a wide range of treatments available. However, the exact treatment depends on the suspected cause of the testosterone deficiency.
Some treatments include FDA-approved oral testosterone supplements and testosterone pellet implants. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is the most common treatment for low testosterone levels. It is given as an injection or as a topical gel that contains testosterone that replaces the missing testosterone from your body. For more information see https://hghtherapydoctor.us/product/norditropin-flexpro-pen/
Although this is a common treatment, it is known to have some side effects: acne, blood clot formation, sleep apnea, etc.
There are five different methods of taking testosterone:
- Transdermal – These are topical creams and liquids that are applied to dry skin without incisions. You can take a topical patch, which is like a plaster with medicine on it, to prevent it from spreading to others
- Injection - Injections can be taken weekly or monthly and come in two forms, short-acting and long-acting. The short-acting ones are given under the skin and the long-acting ones are given into the muscle.
- Oral - The oral dose is placed in a patch over the front tooth. It needs to be chewed or swallowed and will cause headache or irritation where it is placed.
- Pellets – The doctor will place the pellets under the skin of your upper hip after using a local anaesthetic. This drug slowly dissolves and is released over 3-6 months.
- Intranasal – This medication comes in a gel and is inhaled into each nostril three times a day.
You can also stop taking some medications that affect your testosterone levels, as recommended by your doctor.
Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes, such as eating B. Exercise to build muscle and lose weight through diet changes based on your specific situation that will help maintain your testosterone levels.
Some foods can help you balance your testosterone levels. So make sure you're consuming enough foods rich in vitamin D and zinc and keep your testosterone levels within normal range. Garlic is also known to increase testosterone levels.
Nuts, tofu, fish, eggs and seeds contain protein. Aim for around 5-6 ounces each day, but the ideal amount depends on your age, gender, and other factors. When you don't get enough of these foods, your testosterone binds to a substance and eventually lowers its levels.
Fatty foods like tuna, salmon and mackerel are high in vitamin D and are natural testosterone boosters as they play a key role in hormone production. Spinach, packed with magnesium, is another food that blocks a protein's binding to testosterone.
Conclusion
Testosterone levels in men naturally decrease with age. But in some men, these levels go too low and produce symptoms. Treatment is possible, but only after your doctor has confirmed low testosterone levels with a few tests.
Talk to your doctor about your concerns, as an accurate diagnosis will help you find the perfect treatment. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly, and eat a balanced diet to address symptoms of low testosterone without side effects.
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