How Do You Fix Low Testosterone
The exact treatment options for your man will depend on the suspected cause of his low testosterone. For example, if theres an underlying health condition to blame, such as a problem with the pituitary gland, treating the root cause will generally solve the problem.
Using opioids, being overweight and exercising way too much are all known to interfere with testosterone production, so making a plan to taper off medications, lose weight or cut back on physical activity is often the first step.
If that doesnt work, or if another issue is to blame, his doctor may suggest long-term testosterone therapy. There are a few options from which he can choose, all dependent on his personal preferences.
One common therapy is testosterone shots, given every one to two weeks into a muscle. These can be painful, however, Amory notes. Gels or patches that he can apply directly onto his skin are other options, as are daily testosterone pills, which were approved by the Food and Drug Administration last year.
While testosterone therapy can be helpful for those who truly have low testosterone and are bothered by its symptoms, Amory notes that its not a wonder treatment that will cure everything that ails men.
Testosterone And Cardiovascular Health
In a 2015 advisory, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that testosterone use is possibly associated with increased cardiovascular risk and advised physicians to discuss this risk with patients before initiating testosterone therapy.38 This warning came after two observational studies39,40 and a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials41 showed an increased cardiovascular risk, and the Testosterone in Older Men with Mobility Limitation randomized controlled trial was stopped early because of concerns about a higher incidence of cardiovascular adverse events in the testosterone treatment group.42 However, other meta-analyses did not find an increased cardiovascular risk,43,44 and several other observational studies have appeared to demonstrate decreased cardiovascular risk with testosterone therapy.4548 Additionally, one of the observational studies that showed increased risk was criticized for its statistical analyses,40 and many of the adverse events leading to the early stoppage of the TOM trial were of questionable clinical significance. Although the findings of the TOM trial are concerning, this study enrolled a high-risk population, and its findings may not be generalizable to most men being considered for testosterone therapy.
How Are Low Testosterone Levels Treated
Testosterone therapy, given by injections, gels, lotions, creams, patches or tablets, is used to treat low testosterone. It’s unclear whether testosterone therapy has any benefit for older men who are otherwise healthy, and testosterone therapy may even be harmful in some situations.
The risks of testosterone therapy include:
- acne or other skin reactions
- weight gain
- non-cancerous growth of the prostate and growth of any existing prostate cancer
Getting diabetes or other illnesses under control and losing weight can also improve testosterone levels.
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Health And Lifestyle Changes
Health and lifestyle changes are among the most important things for you to do. If you want to have a strong, healthy sex drive and you want to be able to get powerful erections, you need to make sure that youre healthy.
Diet Foods that Increase Libido
The first and foremost consideration for anyone hoping to improve their sexual health is their diet. You are what you eat. Theres a reason that people put so much time and effort into figuring out what diet works best for them: it makes them feel good.
There are a few vitamins and foods that increase libido and can generally improve your sex life. However, this doesnt mean that you should just focus on these and neglect the rest. But if youre specifically looking for how to arouse a man with low testosterone, then you want to make sure that youre not deficient in:
- Zinc:This is an important nutrient thats responsible for the formation of testosterone. Zinc can be found in abundance in foods like oysters, chickpeas, nuts, and whole grains.
- Magnesium:A mineral thats important for blood circulation. Magnesium can be found in foods like nuts, grains, and legumes.
- B vitamins: These are also important for energy circulation and metabolism.
- Vitamin D and vitamin K: These vitaminsare both important for sexual health, and they work together. You will not have a hard time finding a supplement that combines both vitamin K and vitamin D.
Exercise
Sleep
Keep Your Mental Health In Check
In Most Cases Testosterone Treatments Are Not The Best Option For These Symptoms
A lot of medical conditions can contribute to low testosterone levels, Shukla said. Its important to make sure that youre not dealing with any underlying health issues. You want to really identify why youre experiencing those symptoms.
As he likes to frame it, maintaining your health is like maintaining your house. If you dont take care of the bones of the house, you can’t expect to add on to the house or put a lot of investment in the house.
Diabetes, kidney disease and a sedentary lifestyle could be contributing factors to these symptoms, as well as other chronic diseases.
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Low Testosterone Treatment: Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Low testosterone treatment is designed to boost testosterone levels. Studies suggest this increase in testosterone can strengthen muscles, protect bones, and improve sex drive. Testosterone replacement therapy is only recommended for men who have blood levels that show low testosterone. Such treatments can have different effects from one man to another so it is difficult to predict the treatment outcomes for any one individual.
Methods of Testosterone Delivery
- Implanted pellets
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Low Testosterone: How Do You Know When Levels Are Too Low
The only accurate way to know when low testosterone levels are too low is to get the proper blood testing completed. When you work with a reputable clinic, they will mandate that blood testing and a physical examination be completed. The clinical advisor with whom you work will set up the appointment for you in a local hormone replacement therapy HRT clinic in your city.
Blood testing is very simple. It is a quick and easy process, such as what you would get in a routine physical exam. Once completed, the blood work will be sent back to the clinic where the licensed physician of endocrinology will analyze the results. Our trained doctors are highly skilled in reading blood work and can tell a patient whether or not he or she is dealing with low T.
After a blood sample confirms low T, the doctor can then presume that the problems a person is dealing with physically, emotionally, mentally and sexually may be symptoms of low testosterone levels. This is when they can correctly diagnose a patient and prescribe the right medication and dosage for the unique needs of each individual patient.
Question 7 Of : What Are Normal Testosterone Levels
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Treatment With Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Accepted methods of TRT in the United States include:
- Skin patches
- Topical gels
- Injectable medications
Oral testosterone medications are currently not FDA-approved due to potential liver toxicity. Your testosterone level and other factors will determine which therapy is used. Testosterone treatment can decrease sperm counts and even render men sterile , so men desiring fertility should be given alternative medications to help boost their own natural testosterone levels. Testosterone replacement therapy should never be used in men desiring fertility, and other treatments may be indicated such as an aromatase inhibitor or HCG.
TRT requires close monitoring for changes in blood count, prostate-specific antigen level, and liver enzymes. This blood testing should take place two to four times per year, and a digital rectal examination in needed every six months for prostate cancer screening.
Counseling Regarding Treatment Of Testosterone Deficiency
Guideline Statement 13
13. Clinicians should inform testosterone deficient patients that low testosterone is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Discussion
Thirty-three studies that compared men with low testosterone to those with normal testosterone showed that testosterone deficient men were at significantly greater risk of having hypertension . 1, 7, 27, 28, 35, 40, 82, 231, 232, 234, 237, 239, 240, 244-263 Twenty-one studies indicated that men with low testosterone, as compared to men with normal testosterone levels, had significantly increased odds of having dyslipidemia . 7, 37, 40, 83, 231, 234, 237, 240, 247-250, 254-256, 258, 259, 262-265 13 studies comparing the prevalence of obesity and 62 studies comparing BMI values showed that low testosterone patients are nearly twice as likely to be obese 27, 28, 148, 248-250, 254, 256-258, 266-268 and have higher BMI .1, 7, 26, 28, 38, 74, 78, 79, 81-86, 90, 101, 103, 107, 148, 233, 235, 237-242, 245, 247, 249, 251, 255, 257, 260, 262-265, 267-289 as compared to men with normal testosterone levels.
Guideline Statement 14
14. Patients should be informed that testosterone therapy may result in improvements in erectile function, low sex drive, anemia, bone mineral density, lean body mass, and/or depressive symptoms.
Discussion
Guideline Statement 15
Discussion
Guideline Statement 16
Discussion
Guideline Statement 17
Discussion
Guideline Statement 18
Discussion
Guideline Statement 19
Discussion
Guideline Statement 20
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How Do You Train
One of the best ways to boost testosterone levels is to perform heavy resistance training.
The more physically demanding the better which makes sense given that men who perform no physical activity really dont require testosterone.
While any kind of exercise is good for you, the type of training you do makes a difference.
If you lift heavy weights and do high intensity cardio then you are more likely to have high t-levels.
However, if you do a lot of endurance training your testosterone levels are more likely to be low.
Remember this wont give you an exact figure, but if you havent done a bench press in years you probably fall into the low-testosterone category.
Determining Your Testosterone Levels How Do You Know If Your Testosterone Levels Are Normal
In general, testosterone levels in men peak during late teens or early 20s. And, once he reaches the age of 30, his testosterone levels start to gradually decrease by about 1% each year.
The normal testosterone levels per age group are as follows:
- Below age 25 between 300 and 1100
- From 25 years to 29 years between 250 and 1100
- From age 30 years to 34 years between 230 and 1000
- From age 35 years to 39 years between 220 and 980
- From age 40 years to 49 years between 200 and 980
- From age 50 years to 54 years between 170 and 920
- From age 55 years to 59 years between 200 and 900
To know your testosterone levels, you have to get a testosterone level test. The steps involved in a testosterone levels test are:
Thats basically it. A testosterone level test is pretty simple and straightforward. For more accurate test results, you have to do the test early in the morning, maybe around 7 am to 10 am, because that is when your testosterone levels are at their highest.
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Chronic Illness Or Medications And Low Testosterone
An acute illness, such as heart attack or sepsis, can decrease testosterone levels, but the effects typically only last a short while and no treatment is necessary.
A chronic illness, such as diabetes and hypertension, or medications that affect testosterone levels, should be assessed in order to address the decreased testosterone and raise it to normal levels. Some medications that can affect testosterone are:
- Beta blockers, which decrease testosterone and impede arousal by interfering with nerve impulses. Alternative treatments include antihypertensives, such as calcium-channel blockers, that don’t interfere with sexual function.
- H2-receptor antagonists, such as cimetidine and ranitidine , which are used to treat gastrointestinal disorders . Alternative treatments include changes to diet and sleep habits, or trying melatonin at night and during the day, consuming several glasses of water with one tablespoon of apple-cider vinegar and one tablespoon of honey mixed in.
Diagnosis Of Male Hypogonadism
According to guidelines from the Endocrine Society, male hypogonadism should be diagnosed only if there are signs or symptoms of hypogonadism and total serum testosterone levels are low on at least two occasions.9 When diagnosing hypogonadism, physicians should not rely solely on questionnaires such as Androgen Deficiency in Aging Males or Aging Males’ Symptoms because of their low sensitivity and specific-ity.9,10 Two editorials published previously in American Family Physician discuss the pros and cons of screening for testosterone deficiency .
Information from references 3, 8, and 9.
Because of circadian variations in testosterone levels, serum testosterone measurement should occur in the morning, or within two hours of awakening in shift workers . Although there is no universal laboratory definition of hypogonadism, in most laboratory reference ranges, the lower limit of normal is between 250 and 350 ng per dL . In men with borderline total testosterone levels, measurement of free testosterone and sex hormonebinding globulin levels should be considered, especially in the presence of conditions that affect sex hormonebinding globulin levels . If low testosterone is confirmed, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels should be measured to categorize the deficiency as primary or secondary.9,11 A prolactin measurement should be considered to rule out pituitary adenoma, especially if luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels are low.
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Weight Gain Particularly Around The Belly
Testosterone encourages muscle growth. When men do not have enough testosterone, it can inhibit muscle growth. Muscle tissue burns calories at a higher rate than fat tissue. When men have low testosterone, it can result in fat gain, and for mostmen, that gain happens around the belly and hips. Sometimes, the imbalance of testosterone and estrogen can cause men to hold onto more body fat than they would otherwise.
What Role Does Testosterone Play In Mens Health
Although its most known for fueling your fellas frisky side, testosterone also plays an important part in maintaining his overall health and well-being.
Testosterone is necessary to maintain muscle mass and bone density, Amory says. We know this because men who lose their testicles to cancer or who have prostate cancer and are put on medications to stop testosterone production get osteoporosis and weak muscles. And if a body builder were to take a lot of testosterone, they would get really big muscles.
Along with keeping his bones and muscles healthy, testosterone also plays a role in regulating fat distribution and red blood cell production.
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Monitoring Managing And Follow
Both sets of guidelines stress the importance of monitoring T levels during treatment to make sure the hormone falls within a desired range and to check the status of other health conditions such as sex, heart and bone health.
While the number of men using testosterone has increased, its concerning that about 20 to 25 percent of men who go on testosterone never get their levels double checked before treatment, and a percentage of men who go on testosterone who dont get their levels checked at all while theyre on the treatment, says Dr. Mulhall.
There are a number of health reasons to monitor testosterone treatments. For example, low testosterone is a risk factor for cardiovascular events, but giving a patient testosterone cannot be said to definitively raise or lower the risk for cardiovascular issues, Dr. Mulhall says.
While testosterone replacement therapy does not cause prostate cancer, Dr. Bhasin notes that increasing testosterone could raise PSA levels, which may lead to an increased risk for prostate cancer, particularly in the 30% of men over 70 years of age who may have with an early stage prostate that has not yet become detectable.4
One important goal of monitoring testosterone levels is to minimize the risk of unnecessary biopsies, he adds.
Testosterone Therapy For Low Levels
In most cases, men need to have both low levels of testosterone in their blood and several symptoms of low testosterone to go on therapy.
It is possible to have low levels and not experience symptoms. But if you do not have any key symptoms, especially fatigue and sexual dysfunction, which are the most common, it is not recommended you go on the therapy given the uncertainty about long-term safety.
Even if your levels are low and you have symptoms, low-t therapy is not always the first course of action. If your doctor can identify the source for declining levelsfor instance, weight gain or a particular medicationhe or she may first address that problem.
If you and your doctor think testosterone replacement therapy is right for you, there are a variety of delivery methods to consider, as found in the Harvard Special Health Report Men’s Health: Fifty and Forward.
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.
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