What are the symptoms of Low Testosterone?
Testosterone: The Key to a Man’s Vitality
Testosterone is a hormone that peaks during adolescence and early adulthood. As men age, testosterone levels gradually decline — typically about 1% a year after age 30. The age-related drop in testosterone may go unnoticed for years, and symptoms of Low T are often treated without correcting the cause of the problem.
LifePlus MD is an authority on “Low T.” Testosterone deficiency is strongly associated with common medical conditions including metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Low T can be a normal part of aging, or can be secondary to underlying factors including medication side effects, thyroid or adrenal dysfunction and excessive alcohol use. Laboratory testing is the only way to diagnose a low testosterone level.
Erectile Dysfunction
ED affects up to half of men in their 50-70s. Testosterone levels are commonly lower in men with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, depression, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease or anorexia nervosa. In addition, certain medications, in particular cortisone-like drugs and opioids (painkillers such as morphine, oxycodone or methadone), reduce testosterone levels. However, several other hormones, including cortisol, LH, prolactin, TSH, and FT4 are involved in sexual functioning and should be investigated in men with ED.
Treatment
Following your LifePlus MD physical examination and lab work, testosterone replacement can be recommended for treatment of symptoms of testosterone deficiency if the physician finds no contraindications. Men with low testosterone levels typically respond very well to testosterone replacement therapy and show a marked improvement in sexual function, sense of well-being and energy levels, and maintenance of secondary sexual characteristics.
LifePlus MD believes that a healthy lifestyle is associated with higher hormone levels, and higher hormone levels seem to induce a more active, healthier lifestyle. For optimal results, it is vital that hormone replacement therapy be combined with adequate exercise, proper nutrition, weight management, stress reduction, and treatment of thyroid and adrenal dysfunction and other health problems.
References:
J Sex Med. 2014 May;11(5):1262-70.
J Sex Med. 2013 Oct;10(10):2443-54.
Endocrine. 2014 Aug;46(3):423-30.
Aust Fam Physician. 2014 May;43(5):277-82.
Fertil Steril. 2013 Jun;99(7):1814-20.