How Can I Raise My Testosterone Level?
Male hypogonadism has been linked to a higher risk of developing heart disease (low testosterone may lead to higher cholesterol levels). While a primary congenital cause should always be considered in younger men who develop hypogonadism, acquired conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, anabolic steroids, or illegal drug use, have been linked to low testosterone levels. Low testosterone may lead to symptoms such as poor energy, concentration, depression, low libido, and erectile dysfunction. Low testosterone levels may also cause concentration difficulties, memory loss, and difficulty sleeping. Testosterone replacement therapy is one of the most effective ways to address this problem.
Symptoms
Some men can experience more severe symptoms, particularly for as long as their testosterone levels stay low. Symptoms of low testosterone (low T) in men include decreased sexual desire, energy levels, and mood. Abnormally low levels of T can contribute to decreased muscle mass, low sex drive, erectile dysfunction (ED) and changes in mood, such as irritability and depression. An estimated one out of every 50 men has low T levels and experiences symptoms such as decreased energy, decreased sexual desire (sex drive), ED, concentration problems, or difficulty sleeping.
Typically, low levels of testosterone in men assigned female at birth are not a problem. Primary hypogonadism occurs when the low levels of testosterone are caused by conditions that affect the testes. Primary hypogonadism is also known as primary testicular failure, which is caused by problems within the testes which may impact the production of testosterone. HIV/AIDS may cause low levels of testosterone, by affecting the hypothalamus, pituitary, and testes.
Certain inflammatory diseases, such as Sarcoidosis, Histiocytosis, and Tuberculosis, involve the hypothalamus and the pituitary and may affect testosterone production. Treatment of brain tumors, such as surgery or radiation treatment, may involve the pituitary and result in hypogonadism.
Although physician-prescribed testosterone replacement therapy is a main treatment option, certain conditions that cause hypogonadism, such as obesity, may be reversible without testosterone therapy. Treatment strategies for primary and secondary forms of male hypogonadism are similar, involving either testosterone supplementation or the induction of endogenous testosterone production. 2 Of eligible candidates who are treated, only 5 percent are actually prescribed testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
TRT is recommended for men who have clinical symptoms of androgen deficiency combined with laboratory evidence of abnormally low levels of serum testosterone.
However, no recommendation is made to treat men who have been diagnosed with breast or prostate cancer. Doctor-prescribed testosterone replacement therapy is safe and may be effective for men diagnosed with persistently abnormally low testosterone production and symptoms associated with this type of androgen (hormone) deficiency.
Testosterone replacement therapy, is done in TRT Clinic Canada and is the popular treatment method for low levels, can actually decrease sperm counts, and should not be used by men trying to get pregnant. Men who are low on testosterone, called hypogonadism in medical terms and often called low T, can still have plenty of the hormone for sperm production.
In addition to changing the identifiable risk factors for hypogonadism, pharmacologic treatment of testosterone may lead to a treatment dilemma for younger men desiring to father children. Testosterone deficiency is a common condition, affecting about 7 percent of men by the time they are in their 50s, with an increasing frequency as they get older.