Do you think you have low testosterone?  Have you been feeling lethargic, noticed body hair loss, or have you been experiencing mood swings?

If you’ve experienced any of these symptoms, you may be dealing with low levels of testosterone. 

Testosterone is the male sex hormone produced in the testicles.

Testosterone hormone levels are essential to male sexual development and function.

When men hit 30, their testosterone levels may slowly begin to decline, leading to a testosterone deficiency.

It’s estimated that about 35% of men in their 70s have low T.

However, it’s becoming more common to see younger men experiencing Low-T symptoms as well.

In the article below, we will discuss the most common low testosterone symptoms in men, so you can seek out medical care and assistance to remedy this issue as soon as possible.

What Is Low Testosterone?

Testosterone plays a pivotal role in several bodily functions for men

They include:

• sex drive

• sexual function

• sperm production

• facial, pubic, and body hair

• lean muscle mass

• muscle strength
• helps burn body fat

• bone density

Testosterone is also essential for overall energy levels.

The amount of testosterone in a man’s body changes throughout the day, and it’s usually highest in the morning.

A normal range for testosterone is 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dl) to 1,000 ng/dl.

Low T is blood testosterone levels of less than 300 ng/dL on two tests.

A testosterone level check typically isn’t included in routine blood work that checks for other medical conditions.

Testosterone levels usually come up when men have questions about a loss of sex drive, loss of erectile function, loss of muscle mass, frequent sleep disturbances, or a general feeling of lethargy.

The blood test for low-T measures testosterone, a hormone known as SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin), and pituitary hormones involved in male hormone production.

A normal testosterone level is defined as 300-1000 ng/dL. Patients in the 300-350 ng/dL range are borderline low.

Men falling in this range or below may be candidates for testosterone replacement therapy or other treatments.

How Common is Low Testosterone in Men?

It’s hard to get an accurate number of how many men may have low testosterone.

However, data suggests that about 2.1% (about two men in every 100) may have TD (testosterone deficiency).

As few as 1% of younger men may have TD, while as many as 50% of men over 80 years old may have TD.

There are risk factors for low T, like certain medical conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes.

One study found that 30% of overweight men had Low-T, compared to only 6.4% of men with normal weight.

In another study, 24.5% of men with diabetes had Low-T, compared to 12.6% without diabetes.

What Are The Causes Of Low Testosterone

The amount of testosterone in men gradually drops as they age.

The natural decline in testosterone starts after age 30 and continues (about 1% per year) throughout his life.

However, many other potential causes of low testosterone can affect even young men.

They include:

• Injury to the testes or infection of the testes (orchitis)
• Chemotherapy
• Metabolic disorders such as hemochromatosis
• Dysfunction or tumors of the pituitary gland
• Medications, like opioids, hormones to treat prostate cancer, and steroids
• Acute or chronic illness
• Alcohol abuse
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Kidney disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Inflammatory conditions such as sarcoidosis
• Obesity
• Extreme weight loss
• Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Aging
• Estrogen excess
• Anabolic steroid abuse
• Severe primary hypothyroidism
• Pubertal delay
• Radiation exposure
• Prior surgery of the brain

Many health conditions can cause low T.  If you’re experiencing any of these causes or have experienced any of the symptoms below, you should contact your health care professional. 

Common Symptoms Of Low Testosterone

Diminished Sex Drive

Testosterone is the primary hormone responsible for men’s sex drive and sexual desire.

This hormone deficiency almost always results in decreased sexual interest.

Men with already low testosterone levels entering their 30s are prone to experiencing low testosterone symptoms, such as low libido.

This often creates mental health issues such as stress and anxiety.

A low sex drive can place undue stress on sexual relationships, adding an additional layer of stress to most men.

Loss Of Body Hair Or Lack Of Hair Growth

When testosterone production slows down, hair loss becomes an issue.

Hair loss and balding are undesirable for most men.

Low testosterone levels are also linked to an inability to grow facial hair.

Too much testosterone can also cause balding and hair loss, which is why it’s so important to monitor your body’s production of testosterone and make sure your health care provider is monitoring it.

Mood Irregularities

All of our hormones can significantly affect our moods.

An irregularity in a hormone like testosterone can result in frequent mood changes and an overall decline in your ability to maintain a happy and calm demeanor.

Low testosterone in men can often bring about depression and sadness, which are challenging to manage without treatment.

Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is one of the most common sexual conditions experienced by men.

The adverse effect of ED can sometimes be traced back to low testosterone levels.

Low testosterone may not be the only cause of erectile dysfunction, but the effect low-T has on a man’s sex drive can affect his ability to gain or maintain an erection.

Low Testosterone Treatment

If your testosterone level is less than 300 ng/dL, testosterone replacement therapy or supplemental testosterone may be recommended.

Treatment typically consists of different formulations of testosterone.

These include topical gels or patches, intramuscular injection, nasal gels, and long-acting testosterone pellet implants.

There’s no one-size-fits-all treatment to increase testosterone production. Some men may respond well to testosterone injections, while other men may do better with testosterone gels. 

Testosterone hormone replacement therapy for an older man can help him reclaim his energy and libido.

Follow-up and monitoring of a patient on testosterone therapy are essential to ensure they are getting the benefits of testosterone therapy.

Be sure to keep up with your doctor and note any changes in your symptoms.

Awareness about low testosterone has grown among the general public, partly due to more stories and reports in the media about it. Hormone therapy is becoming more accepted and more men are beginning to discuss their treatment for age-related low testosterone.

Sometimes men request testosterone therapy if they have certain symptoms even without being tested.

However, doing this may not be safe, and can cause other issues like a high count of red blood cells, and an increased risk of prostate issues.

Your testosterone levels should always be tested before testosterone replacement therapy is given.

Take Your Life Back With Low-T Therapy in Atlanta, Georgia.

If you always feel tired, or your sex life isn’t what it used to be, you could be dealing with Low-T.

Our Men’s Health Specialists in Atlanta know how difficult it can be to not feel like yourself when dealing with low testosterone levels. 

We can help you start to feel like yourself again.

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, contact us today for your private consultation. 

Here at Choice Men’s Health, we are dedicated to helping men regain the confidence they thought they had lost.

Don’t suffer in silence anymore. We can help you with our custom treatment plans. 

We have same-day appointments and guaranteed results on the first visit. Call our Atlanta, Ga, Men’s Health Clinic (404) 400-3717, or fill out a form here if you are experiencing low testosterone symptoms.