What you should know about low testosterone levels

Escrito por: Mr Aza Mohammed
Publicado: | Actualizado: 18/08/2022
Editado por: Sophie Kennedy

Low testosterone levels can cause a variety of symptoms which can impact significantly on quality of life. In this detailed guide, highly respected consultant urological surgeon Mr Aza Mohammed gives an expert guide to low testosterone levels, including how they occur, the symptoms patients often experience and the most common forms of treatment.

 

 

What is testosterone?

 

Testosterone is the main male hormone. It is produced by special cells in the testes (Leydig cells) and the production is under control of higher centres in the brain. Normal levels of testosterone are required to maintain the normal bodily functions in men such as the sexual and reproductive systems as well as other metabolic pathways.

 

 

What causes low testosterone levels?

 

Low testosterone levels, or hypogonadism as commonly known, can either be congenital due to testicular malfunction or acquired. The latter could be caused by a wide-range of conditions such as systemic diseases, certain medications or getting old.

 

 

What are the symptoms of low testosterone levels?

 

Men with low testosterone levels demonstrate sexual symptoms such as erectile dysfunction and loss of libido. In addition, there are general symptoms of lack of energy, low mood and sleep disturbances. Men can also exhibit hot flushes and breast enlargement in some extreme cases.

 

 

How are low testosterone levels usually detected?

 

Hypogonadism can be difficult to detect initially as the symptoms are usually vague and non-specific. The diagnosis is confirmed by a serum testosterone level of less than 12nmol/L. It is important that the test is done more than once and the blood is taken between 7-11 AM in the fasting state to ensure accurate results.

 

 

How are low testosterone levels corrected?

 

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, patients are usually prescribed testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). It is also important to identify any possible causes that can be reversed. Additionally, it’s vital to bear in mind that there are certain conditions that would make the patient unsuitable for TRT, such as a recent history of aggressive prostate cancer, male breast cancer and those with severe urinary symptoms, heart failure and sleep apnoea.

 

Your doctor would usually ask for a prostate exam and PSA blood test before initiating the TRT. Patients on TRT are warned that they might notice oily skin or acne and worsening of urinary symptoms.

 

TRT comes in different preparations such as oral, topical or by injection. Patients would usually notice an improvement in their symptoms soon after the initiation of therapy. The patients are invited for follow-up checks to assess symptomatic improvement and to ensure that the testosterone levels are back to normal.

 

 

 

 

Mr Mohammed is a highly revered consultant urological surgeon with over twenty years’ experience in men’s health and the field of urology. If you wish to schedule a consultation with Mr Mohammed, you can do so by visiting his Top Doctors profile.

Por Mr Aza Mohammed
Urología

El Sr. Aza Mohammed es un destacado consultor en cirugía urológica , con más de 20 años de experiencia en el campo de la urología y la salud masculina. El Sr. Mohammed está especializado en el tratamiento de cálculos renales complejos y en el tratamiento mínimamente invasivo de los síntomas de la próstata , incluidos UroLift y TURP . También tiene una vasta experiencia en el manejo de los cánceres urológicos , el manejo de la disfunción eréctil y la curvatura del pene (enfermedad de Peyronie), el manejo de la incontinencia urinaria femenina, así como el manejo de afecciones urológicas generales.

El Sr. Mohammed ha recibido una amplia capacitación tanto en el Reino Unido como en el extranjero, después de haber trabajado en los principales hospitales universitarios de East Midlands y el oeste de Escocia, antes de emprender una investigación en Uro-oncología en la Universidad de Toronto, Canadá. Está certificado por el Consejo de Urología del Reino Unido y Europa y es miembro del Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Desde 2016, el Sr. Mohammed ha sido un cirujano especialista en urología en Luton y Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

El Sr. Mohammed ha publicado más de 30 artículos en revistas revisadas por pares y ha presentado en reuniones y conferencias nacionales e internacionales. Ha participado en varios proyectos de investigación a lo largo de su carrera en diversas afecciones urológicas, y actualmente es el principal investigador y supervisor de investigaciones de doctorado en el tratamiento de hombres con disfunción eréctil.

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