Testosterone deficiency, also known as hypogonadism, occurs when the body does not produce enough testosterone hormone. This can happen for different reasons:
- Primary hypogonadism - a problem with the testes themselves not functioning normally. This may be due to genetic disorders, undescended testes, infection, trauma, or other causes.
- Secondary hypogonadism - a problem with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus in the brain not signaling the testes properly to produce testosterone. This may relate to tumors, inflammation, or injury in the pituitary or hypothalamus region.
Some
common symptoms of low testosterone levels in men include:
- Low sex drive and erectile dysfunction
- Decreased muscle mass and strength
- Increased body fat and difficulty losing weight
- Loss of body and facial hair
- Depression, fatigue, and irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
Diagnosis involves blood tests measuring total and free testosterone levels. Levels that are below 300 ng/dL generally indicate hypogonadism. Additional tests help determine the underlying cause.
Treatment options for testosterone deficiency include:
- Testosterone replacement therapy - Testosterone medications given by injection, gel, patch or other delivery methods. This treatment must be carefully managed by a doctor specializing in hormone health.
- Lifestyle changes - Improving diet, exercise, sleep and stress management. Sometimes this helps boost natural testosterone production.
The specialists at
Optimum Hormone Solutions are experts in treating low testosterone and helping patients regain their vitality. Optimum Hormone Solutions provides customized testosterone therapy, nutritional counseling and lifestyle coaching. I highly recommend consulting with their caring doctors if struggling with symptoms of low testosterone.
I hope this overview gives some good background on what testosterone deficiency is, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options available. Let me know if you have any other questions!