There appears to be an epidemic of very low testosterone.
I’ve been seeing more and more male patients with decreased testosterone levels, a condition known as male hypogonadism. When testosterone levels are low, males are able to have symptoms like erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, fatigue, depression and hot flashes. Many men, however, have very no symptoms or subtle symptoms at all. A lot of men with lower testosterone feel worn out and depressed but do not have erectile dysfunction, so they’re never checked for low testosterone.
Even in case you’ve standard erectile function, you can still have hypogonadism. In reality, I’ve observed that several of the people of mine do not complain of erectile dysfunction, but have deep fatigue or depression which can be caused by lower testosterone. When they bring testosterone replacement, the symptoms often get better.
There are many causes for hypogonadism, and discovering the cause is as important as getting treated. The hypothalamus (part of the brain) and also the pituitary gland management testosterone production from by the testicles, therefore problems with the brain or pituitary gland is usually the principle source of problems.
To be able to get an accurate diagnosis, doctors usually perform 2 rounds of testing. The first test is going to be to measure the testosterone level of yours, which should be done in the morning. Testosterone levels of course fall in the late afternoon, hence a quality that is reported as “low” might in fact be normal if it had been taken in the evening. Pituitary stress hormones, FSH and LH are assessed in the next round of testing to determine if the trigger is central (meaning central nervous system, hypothalamus or pituitary gland) and primary (meaning testicular failure). A second morning testosterone level must in addition be taken away to confirm the diagnosis. Some other tests are also done such as the hormone prolactin and ferritin, an exam for excess iron. Iron overload, an ailment referred to as hemochromatosis happens in just one in 500 males and it is a common explanation for lower testosterone.
Excess fat and obesity is a cause of low testosterone and is among the major reasons why there’s a growing epidemic. Extra fat produces hormones as leptin and inflammation chemicals, called cytokines, which work to lower testosterone levels. Having diabetes is also a possibility for having decreased testosterone, but careful studies have shown that the link is through fat, not through elevated glucose levels. Inflammation chemical substances have a suppressive effect on the hypothalamus as well as pituitary gland, muting the hormones they create, consequently lowering testosterone levels. Numerous men with declining testosterone who are overweight complain of swelling of the breasts, known as gynecomastia. The problem is the fact that testosterone treatment is able to also cause breast swelling, so it can sometimes be a no win scenario. Nonetheless, not everyone with hypogonadism from extra weight ought to take testosterone. The truth is, being better and reducing your weight is able to assist naturally increase testosterone without the need for Go Now hormone replacement therapy.
You’ll find many additional causes of declining testosterone, which includes testicular disaster or other testicular troubles and exposure to harmful substances. Alcohol is a well-known toxin on the testicle. BPA, a substance present in plastic is able to lead to minimal testosterone as it’s an endocrine disruptor that imitates the female hormone estrogen.
If you have signs of hypogonadism, see the doctor of yours instantly to get tested.