Low Testosterone (Low-T)

An underproduction of testosterone causes low-T in men and women.

• Low testosterone (low-T) is underproduction or lack of production of testosterone in men and women.
• Causes of low-T include chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, infections, obesity, or other hormonal conditions.
• Symptoms of low-T include:
  • Change in sleep patterns
  • Reduced sex drive (low libido)
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Infertility
  • Emotional changes
  • Decreased strength
  • Weight gain
• Low-T testing includes linking symptoms with testosterone blood levels.
• Treatment options for low-T include different forms of testosterone replacement therapy.

Some conditions that can lead to a low level of testosterone are:

• Obesity
• Diabetes (type 2)
• Chronic medical conditions (especially liver or kidney disease)
• Hormonal disorders
• Infections
• Medications (narcotics, chemotherapy)

Signs and symptoms of low testosterone include:

1. Change in sleep patterns: insomnia or sleep disturbances
2. Physical changes: increased body fat and reduced muscle bulk
3. Sexual changes: reduced sexual desires, sexual dysfunction, or infertility
4. Emotional changes: decreased motivations, depression
5. Worsening of sleep apnea
6. Worsening of congestive heart failure

It is important to distinguish between a normal decline of testosterone levels and hypogonadism.

Although testosterone therapy helps with hypogonadism, whether it helps in the reversal or slowing of normal effects of aging and lower testosterone levels is unclear. Several published research articles have conflicting results and more research is needed to make a final determination about the use of testosterone for healthy aging males.

The diagnosis of low-T is based on correlating a low blood level (300 ng/dl or below) with symptoms.

Most of the symptoms are very apparent (see previously), but some need to be further investigated (such as low bone density).

Treatment of low testosterone in hypogonadism is a fully accepted therapy. Treatment in older men is more controversial. Discuss your testosterone levels, symptoms, and side effects of treatment with your doctor to establish whether you should receive therapy and what form of therapy.

There are several ways that testosterone therapy can be administered:

• Transdermal (skin patch): Usually applied once a day. Tends to be clean and easy to apply. There is an available mouth patch that sticks to the upper gums and is applied twice daily.
• Gels: Applied directly to the skin and then absorbed through the skin. Dosing is more difficult although these gels are available in single applications packages or premeasured pumps.
• Injections: Testosterone can be delivered by direct injection.
• Pellets: Pellets can be implanted into the soft tissue and release the testosterone.

Why no pills? Testosterone is available as a pill but some experts believe long-term oral delivery of testosterone can have negative effects on the liver. These other delivery methods bypass the liver (as they don't involve a pill being absorbed through the stomach/intestine) and go directly into the bloodstream.

What natural remedies treat low testosterone (low-T)?

• Get enough sleep
• Keep a healthy weight
• Stay active

Does exercise increase testosterone levels?

Over a long period of time, exercise has been found to increase testosterone levels in men. However, even over the short term, exercise has been found to affect testosterone levels. Some exercises more than others have been found to increase testosterone levels within fifteen minutes and an hour of doing them.

This short-time spike disappears after that period of time and is bigger for younger men. Additionally, testosterone levels are naturally higher in the morning and lower in the afternoon. So if you work out in the morning and do specific workouts that heighten your testosterone levels, you will get a short-term boost. However, only regular exercise over time will raise testosterone levels in the long term.

Currently, there is no evidence that testosterone levels increase when women exercise. However, an increased presence of testosterone in a woman's body during exercise helps women to train. In addition, testosterone helps muscles recover faster, which benefits overall exercise progress.

Which exercises increase testosterone levels?

Here are some of the exercises that have been found to temporarily boost testosterone:

• Weightlifting. This practice is said to be one that is most linked to higher testosterone levels. Its muscle-boosting effects are thought to generate more testosterone. If your focus is increased testosterone, it's best to target larger muscle groups while you are lifting. However, strengthening your whole body helps metabolism and aids in avoiding injury. So, don't ignore other parts of your body in your quest for more testosterone.
• High-intensity interval training (HIIT). This is a type of exercise in which you usually complete short but intense periods of activity that substantially increase heart rate. Intense periods are followed by periods of recovery that are about the same length of time or a little shorter than the exercise periods. The entire workout should last around twenty minutes to an hour.

Should I take testosterone?

The definite verdict on testosterone therapy is still out. Testosterone therapy is accepted as a treatment for hypogonadism, a clearly defined medical condition.

In older adults who have markedly decreased testosterone levels without significant symptoms or who have modestly decreased levels with significant symptoms, testosterone therapy should be considered after a discussion with your doctor about side effects and possible positive effects of therapy.

There is no clear proof that testosterone therapy is helpful in reversing any aspects of natural aging in males.

The following are possible side effects and risks of testosterone therapy for the normal aging male:

• Stimulation of growth of the prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy) and possible growth of existing prostate cancer
• Skin reactions
• Limiting sperm production and shrinkage of testicles
• Overproduction of red blood cells (which can contribute to a heart attack)
• Some studies have implicated testosterone in an increase in cardiovascular events.