Low Testosterone Symptoms: Effects & Treatment

Low Testosterone Symptoms & Care: A Guide to Hormonal Health

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone that facilitates the development of male characteristics. However, data shows that about 2 men in every 100 have testosterone deficiency syndrome as their testicles do not produce enough testosterone. There are numerous male hypogonadism or low testosterone symptoms, which help males make sense of their situation.

If your testosterone level drops below 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL), symptoms of low testosterone may appear. Low testosterone or male hypogonadism is a condition in which your testicles do not produce enough testosterone. This blog discusses low testosterone symptoms and how it is caused. It also analyses the diagnosis and treatment procedure of this condition.

Low Testosterone Symptoms in Men

Beginning around the age of 30, testosterone levels usually decrease by roughly 1% each year. However, testosterone levels may also drop due to many other reasons, and even children experience these symptoms. People of different age groups experience a range of symptoms when their testosterone production levels drop. Here are the low testosterone symptoms that can be found in men:

• Lower sexual intercourse drive
• Erectile dysfunction
• Loss of pubic and armpit hair
• Low muscle strength
• Decreased bone mass
• Shrinking testicles
• Excessive fatigue
• Increased body fat
• Azoospermia or low sperm count causes male infertility
• Depression
• Lower endurance
• Lack of concentration and memory
• Mood swings
• Low blood count or anaemia
• Difficulty in sleeping
• Hair loss
• Hot flashes
   

Below are the symptoms of low testosterone levels among children:

• Lower endurance and strength
• Reduced testicle growth
• Less voice deepening
• Slower growth in height, but legs and arms continue to grow compared to the rest of the body
   

Causes of Low Testosterone

As you grow older, your testosterone levels will naturally decrease. However, other conditions or situations can cause low testosterone. There are 2 types of hypogonadism, which have different causes. They are primary hypogonadism, which is a testicular disorder, and the other is secondary hypogonadism, which is hypothalamic dysfunction.

Causes of Primary Hypogonadism

Primary hypogonadism occurs when your testicles do not produce normal levels of testosterone. Instead of producing more testosterone, your pituitary gland produces follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) and luteinizing hormones (LH).

High levels of these hormones tell your testicles to produce more sperm. If your testicles are damaged, they cannot respond to the high levels of FSH and produce less or no testosterone. The following conditions can affect your testicles and result in primary hypogonadism:

• Leydig cell hypoplasia
• Noonan syndrome
• Anorchia or no testicles since birth
• Myotonic dystrophy
• Testicular removal
• Klinefelter’s syndrome, in which males are born with XXY chromosomes instead of XY chromosomes
   

Causes of Secondary Hypogonadism

Secondary hypogonadism or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism occurs when some conditions affect your pituitary glands. This situation results in low levels of FSH and LH, which can cause lower sperm or testosterone production. These are the conditions that cause secondary hypogonadism:

• Kallmann syndrome or low development of nerve cells
• Hemochromatosis or iron overload
• Hypopituitarism, which is caused by infiltrative disease, injury, infection, or radiation therapy
• Hyperprolactinemia
• Prader-Willi syndrome, a disorder which causes hypothalamic dysfunction
• Isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, or low gonadotropin hormone from birth
   

Other conditions that can cause low testosterone production in men are:

• Testicle injuries
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• Excessive stress
• AIDS
• Pituitary gland conditions
• Metabolic syndrome
• Liver cirrhosis
• Alcohol use disorder
• Obesity
• Kidney disease
• Autoimmune diseases
• Intake of medications including psychoactive drugs, metoclopramide, estrogens, goserelin, triptorelin and opioids
   

Risk Factors of Low Testosterone Levels

A study has found that obese men had a 2.4 times increased risk of low testosterone in 2,100 males over 45. Low testosterone levels can affect people at any age, especially those who are getting older. Irrespective of that, low testosterone symptoms can be seen in men who:

• Experiencing obstructive sleep apnea
• Are affected by type 2 diabetes
• Suffering from kidney dysfunction or liver cirrhosis
• Have HIV or AIDS

Diagnosis and Tests for Low Testosterone

If you are experiencing low testosterone symptoms, your healthcare provider will perform many physical and blood tests. Your testosterone levels will be considered low if they come under 300 ng/dL. Below are some of the common tests that are performed to diagnose low testosterone in men:

• Testosterone level blood test: The total testosterone blood test includes 2 sample collections of blood between 8 am and 10 am. Testosterone levels should be at their highest levels in this timeframe. However, if you have a fever, the result will be low.
• Prolactin blood test: This test reveals your prolactin levels. Increased prolactin levels can be a sign of tumours or pituitary gland issues.
• Luteinising hormone blood test: This blood test determines the cause of low testosterone levels since LH hormone controls how much testosterone you produce.
• Blood haemoglobin: Theblood haemoglobin test is also used to diagnose low testosterone levels. However, the doctor will check other reasons for low haemoglobin, such as tobacco smoking or sleep apnea.
• Follicle-stimulating hormone test: If you are planning to have children, an FSH test will be performed to check your sperm-making function.
• Karyotype: Karyotype is a type of chromosome test that helps doctors rule out the possibility of Turner and Klinefelter syndromes, which lead to testosterone deficiency.
   

Treatment for Low Testosterone

Low testosterone levels are generally treated by testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). If you are experiencing several low testosterone symptoms, doctors will prescribe TRT. Below are the different forms of TRT therapy:

• Intramuscular testosterone injections: You need to take injections in your muscles every one or two weeks.
• Oral testosterone: Oral testosterone, like the undecanoate pill, can treat low testosterone levels caused by medical conditions like tumours or Klinefelter syndrome.
• Testosterone skin gels: You need to apply this gel to your clean and dry skin every day. You should not transfer the gel to another person’s skin by skin-to-skin contact.
• Testosterone patches: Apply these patches to your skin daily. Rotate their location frequently to avoid skin reactions.
• Testosterone nasal gel: You have to apply this nasal gel in both nostrils thrice a day.
• Testosterone pellets: A specialist implants testosterone pellets under your skin every three to six months. These provide long-term testosterone dosage.
• Buccal testosterone tablets: You need to use Buccal testosterone tablets two times a day. You need to apply these to your gums so that the testosterone is absorbed into your bloodstream.
   

If you do not notice any change in symptoms after 3 months of the treatment, you are less likely to benefit from TRT treatment.

Tips to Maintain High Testosterone Levels Naturally

You should have high testosterone levels to avoid experiencing low testosterone symptoms. Follow these tips to maintain high testosterone levels:

• Maintain a healthy diet by including zinc and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Do regular exercise.
• Avoiding the consumption of alcohol and drugs.
   

Final Words

Men generally experience low testosterone symptoms while getting older. Low levels of FSH and LH and testicular damage can reduce your testosterone levels. However, you can naturally boost your testosterone levels by avoiding alcohol consumption, maintaining a proper weight, and doing regular exercise.