What causes low testosterone?

Men’s testosterone levels naturally decline by about 2% every year after the age of 30. You can also have low testosterone due to health problems such as hypogonadism.

Hypogonadism occurs when your testicles don’t produce normal levels of testosterone. You may develop hypogonadism due to numerous health conditions, such as:

• Mumps
• Testicular injuries
• High blood levels of iron
• Pituitary problems
• Metabolic disorders
• Cancer treatment
• Autoimmune disease

Your risk of developing low testosterone also increases if you’re overweight. The medical experts estimate that every one-point increase in BMI results in a 2% drop in testosterone.

What symptoms develop due to low testosterone?

As testosterone levels drop, you’ll experience symptoms such as:

Low sex drive
Erectile dysfunction

• Loss of body and bear hair
• Loss of muscle mass and strength
• Weight gain
• Memory problems
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue

While low libido, or loss of your sex drive, often occurs when you have low testosterone, it’s a complex problem caused by many possible factors, from fatigue and stress to medications and relationship problems. Your AS Urology provider helps you determine the cause and creates solutions that restore your sexual health.

How do urologists treat low testosterone?

The AS Urology team has state-of-the-art diagnostic capabilities, including in-house hormonal axis assessment and high-definition imaging. After assessing your hormone levels, they typically prescribe bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).

Bioidentical hormones are made from plant-based sterols and have the same chemical structure as your natural hormones. Your provider individualizes your BHRT, so you receive the precise dose of testosterone needed to restore normal levels.

BHRT comes in the form of pellets about the size of a grain of rice. Your provider implants the pellet under your skin, where it continuously releases testosterone for several months. You can also get hormone therapy in the form of oral medication, injectables, and topical gels.

No matter what form of hormone replacement you prefer, your provider follows strict replacement protocols and closely monitors your treatment to ensure optimal results.

If you have a physical condition that affects testosterone production such as varicoceles, your provider performs minimally invasive surgery to repair the problem. The AS Urology team also offers non-medical therapies when appropriate, including diet, exercise, and stress reduction.

To get help for low testosterone, call AS Urology, or book an appointment online today.