Low Testosterone

What is low testosterone?

Testosterone is the male sex hormone. It’s responsible for many male characteristics, such as sex drive, nighttime and morning erections, increased muscle mass and strength, facial hair, and a deep voice. Testosterone plays a vital role in men’s wellness, especially sexual health. Maintaining normal testosterone levels is critical for optimal sexual and overall body functioning.

What are the symptoms of low testosterone?

Low testosterone can cause the following symptoms:

• Loss of muscle mass
• Reduced sex drive
• Erectile dysfunction (ED)
• Increased body fat
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Depression 
• Reduced body hair
• Shrinking testicles
• Hot flashes
• Reduced sperm count (male infertility)
• Lower bone density
• Decreased sense of well-being
• Difficulty with memory and concentration
• Gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts)
• Reduced muscle mass and strength
• Decreased endurance 

Low testosterone can diminish your overall quality of life. Fortunately, Optimal Health Miami provides noninvasive solutions that restore your hormone balance.

What increases the risk of low testosterone?

Your risk of low testosterone increases due to:

• Aging
• Concussions, head, or brain injuries
• Obesity/overweight
• Anabolic steroid use
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Underlying medical concerns
• Some medications
• Alcohol use disorder
• Family history of hormone imbalances
• Congenital problems
• Testicle inflammation, injury, removal, or inflammation
• Radiation therapy or chemotherapy
• Tumors
• Kidney failure
• HIV/AIDS
• Poorly managed diabetes

Adopting healthy habits and effectively managing underlying medical conditions can reduce your risk of low testosterone.

How is low testosterone diagnosed?

To diagnose low testosterone, Dr. Gittelman at Optimal Health Miami discusses your symptoms and medical history, completes a physical exam, and orders lab tests to assess your current testosterone (and other hormone) levels and overall health markers.

Even if you have had prior “normal” testosterone blood levels, it is important to retest using the “usable” testosterone, which is free testosterone and bioavailable testosterone. These are levels that the testosterone specialists measure. 

Dr Gittelman will then create a personalized treatment plan based on your goals, metabolism, and body composition. You may not be a candidate for this treatment if you have a history of certain types of prostate cancer.

How is low testosterone treated?

Treating low testosterone involves making healthy lifestyle changes and often bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). This means patients have the option of using gels, injections, patches, buccal tablets, nasal gel, oral testosterone, or pellets.

A popular option is for Dr. Gittelman to insert hormone pellets beneath your skin, where they release testosterone throughout your body over time. They typically last 3-4 months before needing to be replaced.

It’s also helpful to minimize stress, eat nutritious foods, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, avoid drug and excessive alcohol use, and maintain a healthy body weight.

Schedule a low testosterone evaluation at Optimal Health Miami by calling the office or requesting a consultation online today.