What Can Help With My Low Testosterone?

You might consider hormonal changes a female health issue, but men also undergo changes to their reproductive hormones. From your muscle mass to your sexual health, testosterone influences your overall well-being in significant ways.

When your testosterone levels are low, known as “low T,” you may suffer from a host of unpleasant symptoms. Fortunately, our team of medical specialists at Urology Associates Medical Group has solutions.

We’ve put together this informative guide to help you better understand your low testosterone and the treatment options available.

What is low testosterone?

During puberty, your body releases large quantities of testosterone, creating a deeper voice, increased muscle mass, and a change in the size of your sex organs. Throughout your life, testosterone plays an important role in your overall health, including sex drive and bone health.

Levels of testosterone are highest at the end of puberty, in your late teens, and remain high throughout your 20s. But starting in your 30s, your testosterone levels gradually decline. This natural decrease in testosterone is a normal part of the aging process.

For some men, testosterone levels can drop too low. While only about 1% of men under 30 have low T, by age 80 this number climbs to 50%. Symptoms of low T include:

Reduced sex drive
Reduced erectile function
Loss of hair on your body and head
Less beard growth
Loss of lean muscle mass
Fatigue and/or insomnia
Increased body fat
Memory troubles
Symptoms of depression
Fragile bones

Low testosterone levels can also cause tenderness in your breast tissue as well as hot flashes.

Why do I have low testosterone?

There are many reasons you may be diagnosed with low T. We evaluate your symptoms and levels of testosterone to determine the root cause. Some potential reasons you may have low T include:

Injury to your testicles
HIV or AIDS
Type 2 diabetes
Obesity
Testicular cancer
Hormone disorders
Infections
Genetic disorders
Liver disease
Kidney disease

Certain medications can also cause your testosterone levels to drop. Because there are so many potential causes of low testosterone, you should seek medical help from trained experts, like our team at Urology Associates Medical Group.

What can help my low testosterone?

The type of treatment for your low testosterone depends on your symptoms and your testosterone levels.

For men with borderline low testosterone, simple lifestyle changes may be enough to effect positive change. For example, losing excess weight and becoming physically active can boost testosterone.

We work with you to create a customized treatment plan designed to eliminate your low T. Some men benefit from targeted treatments that address specific symptoms, like help for erectile dysfunction or medication to improve sleep.

Other men benefit from receiving testosterone injections every few weeks, wearing a testosterone patch, or applying testosterone gels. Pellet testosterone therapy is another option in which we insert testosterone pellets under your skin, where they are absorbed over several months.

Contact our team at Urology Associates Medical Group in Burbank, California, to schedule an appointment or to learn more about solutions for your low testosterone. We also offer telemedicine appointments so you can meet with us from the safety of your home.