Low testosterone in men

Testosterone production is regulated by hormones released from the brain. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland located in the brain produce hormonal signals that ultimately result in the production of testosterone. During puberty, testosterone helps build a man’s muscles, deepens his voice and boosts the size of his penis and testes. In adulthood, it keeps a man’s muscles and bones strong and maintains his interest in sex.

After the age of 30, most men begin to experience a gradual decline in their testosterone levels. A decrease in sex drive sometimes accompanies the drop in testosterone, leading many men to mistakenly believe that their loss of interest in sex is simply due to getting older.

Low testosterone: how low is too low?

The bottom of a man’s normal total testosterone range is about 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). The upper limits are 1,000 to 1,200 ng/dL. A lower-than-normal score in a blood test can be caused by a number of conditions, including the following:

• • Injury to the testicles

• • Testicular cancer or treatment for testicular cancer

• • Hormonal disorders

• • Infection

• • HIV/Aids

• • Chronic liver or kidney disease

• • Type 2 diabetes

• • Obesity.

Some medicines and genetic conditions can also lower a man’s testosterone score.

Low testosterone symptoms

Having a gradual decline in your testosterone level as you age is to be expected. Treatment is sometimes considered if you’re experiencing symptoms related to low testosterone.

If low testosterone occurs before or during puberty, you may experience a lack of sexual maturation. Signs may include failure to develop muscle mass, failure of the voice to deepen, poor growth of body hair, enlarged breasts and failure of the penis and testes to enlarge.

In adulthood, low testosterone may lead to decreased sexual function and desire, infertility and erectile dysfunction. Loss of hair, decreased muscle mass and osteoporosis or decreased bone density may occur.

Treatment of low testosterone

In men, low testosterone levels in the body can be supplemented by hormone replacement with testosterone. Testosterone replacement therapy can be prescribed as an intra-muscular injection usually given on a bi-weekly basis.

Can low testosterone be prevented?

Low testosterone is due to the failure of at least one part of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (sex organ) axis. Many illnesses and diseases that affect these organs are inherited and cannot be prevented. Other causes are unavoidable consequences of cancer therapy and infection. However, some causes such as obesity and drug abuse are preventable.

 

Sources
http://www.medicinenet.com/
http://men.webmd.com/