Testosterone — the primary male sex hormone. It’s responsible for the hair on your chest, the strength of your muscles, and the health of your sex life.
Just as much, it’s in charge of maintaining your red blood cell levels, bone density, and overall sense of well-being.
So… What happens when you don’t get enough testosterone? What causes this to happen? And are there any testosterone deficiency treatments?
Testosterone deficiency (TD), also known as hypogonadism, is a medical condition where the male body produces inadequate testosterone levels. This results in a long list of symptoms affecting your physical health, mental health, and overall quality of life.
At the most basic level, testosterone is responsible for helping male hormones develop and maintain secondary sexual characteristics. Without adequate amounts of the hormone in the body, many men experience negative effects in their personal and professional lives.
You can be diagnosed with testosterone deficiency when experiencing symptoms such as:
It’s estimated to affect anywhere from 10-40% of men throughout the world, especially men over 40. On average, testosterone production begins to decline in our 30s and 40s. However, testosterone deficiency treatment is available and can reduce symptoms and even reverse symptoms, helping you feel like your normal self again.
There are two main causes of testosterone deficiency: Primary and Secondary
Primary hypogonadism develops due to a testicular disorder from birth or acquired throughout life. The issue starts in the testicles, where testosterone is produced.
Secondary hypogonadism is much more common. In these cases, men can experience low testosterone due to several physiological and lifestyle factors that can disrupt this signal.
Here, the issue starts in the brain instead of the testicles. The pituitary gland and hypothalamus are parts of the brain that tell your body it’s time to produce testosterone.
The testicles, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland must function properly to support healthy testosterone levels. If not, testosterone deficiency treatment may be needed to refind balance, energy, and quality of life.
Testicular injuries
Every man knows it — getting kicked in the testicles hurts. But this impact can last longer than you might realize. Sometimes, enough damage to both testicles can hurt testosterone production.
Mumps
If you’ve experienced a mumps infection that spread to your testicles, it may impact your production and require testosterone deficiency treatment.
Radiation
Exposure to radiation during chemotherapy can temporarily damage testosterone and sperm levels.
Klinefelter syndrome
One of the common sex chromosome disorders, Klinefelter syndrome changes the number of sex chromosomes, adding an extra X chromosome that can affect the development of testicles and testosterone production.
Obesity
Obesity lowers testosterone levels due to the effects of insulin resistance. One study found that obesity can increase the chance of testosterone deficiency by 800%.
Diabetes
Just the same, men with diabetes are more likely to need testosterone deficiency treatment. Testosterone is important in helping the male body manage blood sugar and insulin. Some studies suggest up to half of men with diabetes experience testosterone deficiency.
Head trauma
Certain head injuries impacting the pituitary gland or hypothalamus may interfere with testosterone levels.
Medication
Check with your doctor about the side effects of your medication. Certain medications, such as hormone treatments, psychoactive drugs, and pain medication, can impact your levels.
HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS can affect the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and testicles, leading to hypogonadism.
Inflammatory diseases
Certain inflammatory diseases, such as tuberculosis, can impact the brain’s involvement in the production of testosterone. Further studies show inflammation can limit testosterone levels, even among men without diabetes or metabolic disorders.
Other causes of hypogonadism may include sleep disorders, excess iron intake, alcoholism, pituitary disorders, low thyroid function, Cushing’s syndrome, and kidney failure.
By understanding the underlying causes of hypogonadism, you can find testosterone deficiency treatments and lifestyle modifications to improve your quality of life.
Fortunately, yes. Testosterone replacement therapy is one of the most common and effective testosterone deficiency treatments.
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a safe and effective testosterone deficiency treatment method. It provides supplemental hormones that mimic the body’s naturally produced hormones to help restore balance. TRT is administered in different forms, including injections, creams, gels, and patch therapy.
Studies have demonstrated that hormone replacement therapy can effectively treat low testosterone and associated symptoms such as fatigue, lack of motivation, and even depression. In many cases, hormone replacement therapy can alleviate and reverse these symptoms when administered properly by a qualified medical professional.
After receiving a hypogonadism assessment, you can get answers and find out if the testosterone deficiency treatment is right for you.
No matter your age or stage in life, you deserve to feel your best.
At Pollock Clinics, our renowned medical doctors specialize in empowering men’s health. From testosterone deficiency treatments to penis enlargement treatments, our clinic provides solutions for transformed well-being, performance, and confidence.
We understand the unique needs of each individual patient, which is why we provide personalized assessments and treatments that can produce lasting results. Our board-certified physicians are available to provide comprehensive diagnoses so you can determine the best solutions for your needs.
Call us at 604-717-6200 to learn more about our testosterone assessments, Enlargement Program, and other men’s health treatments.
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