1. What is testosterone deficiency?
Testosterone is a vital hormone that is important for men’s physical and emotional wellbeing. It is produced naturally by the testicles and is responsible for maintaining muscle and bone mass, production of sperm and the desire to have sex.
Testosterone deficiency (TD), more commonly referred as ‘low testosterone’, is a medical condition where the body does not produce enough testosterone and testosterone levels are falling below the normal range.
Testosterone deficiency symptoms can be mistaken for natural signs of ageing. Although testosterone levels fall as men age, in some men they can drastically drop to such level as to affect their sexual, physical and mental health.
2. What causes testosterone deficiency and whom can it affect?
In the UK, around 790,000 men between 50-79yrs old are suffering from TD.
The reasons for having TD are not always clear. However, the chances of having TD are higher in men who have certain other conditions such as:
- Diabetes (50 percent of men with Type 2 diabetes suffer from low testosterone)
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
Medications, most commonly long-term use of opioids, as well as anti-depressants, asthma inhalers and cholesterol lowering treatments may also lead to lower than normal testosterone.
3. What are the symptoms of testosterone deficiency and how can I tell if I have it?
TD usually presents with sexual symptoms such as a reduced interest in sex or problems getting and maintaining an erection. Symptoms also include depression, lack of motivation, low self-esteem, weight gain and tiredness. You may notice that they lack concentration, experience hot flushes, have reduced muscle mass resulting in weakness, and increased fat around their abdomens.
None of these symptoms are specific to testosterone deficiency, so it is important to talk to your doctor to make sure that it is not associated with other medical conditions—if you are concerned complete an online clinical assessment on low-testosterone.uk and then talk to your doctor.
TD is a serious health issue that can cause wider problems if left untreated. It is associated with increased cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, and mortality in men.
See also: The Most Common Men’s Health Problems
4. How is testosterone deficiency usually treated?
There are non-medicinal options offered to you to increase your testosterone levels such as changing your diet and lifestyle.
If symptoms of testosterone deficiency persist and blood tests have shown you have a low testosterone level, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a widely used treatment proven effective to:
- Restore your libido and erectile function
- Improve your mood and provide a sense of wellbeing
- Decrease fatigue
- Improve your lean body mass, strength and stamina
- Improve your bone density to help prevent osteoporosis
There are different options to help you get your testosterone levels back to normal:
- Gel applied to the skin each day
- Injections into the muscle (every two to three weeks or every 10–14 weeks)
- Oral inserts applied to the gum twice a day
Your doctor will be able to recommend the most appropriate treatment and discuss any benefits and risks.
5. Testosterone replacement therapy is a common solution for testosterone deficiency. What factors should be considered before undertaking TRT?
Before undertaking TRT, you may want to look at changing your diet and lifestyle, which can be effective in increasing testosterone levels. If your diagnosis has been confirmed based on clinical symptoms and blood tests, your doctor will check whether TRT is suitable for you.
If you are suspected to have or have had prostate cancer and/or breast cancer you should not take TRT—nor should you if you have severe urinary tract problems, untreated severe sleep apnoea or uncontrolled heart failure. It is also advised that before considering TRT you should undergo a prostate cancer screening and a rectal exam.
See also: Men’s Health: Man Up For a Check-up!
6. What are the side effects of TRT?
Like any other medication, directions for administering testosterone should be followed exactly as your doctor orders. When considering TRT ask your doctor to explain the known risks and benefits. There can be mild side effects depending on the form used: injectable forms can cause pain and bruising at site of injection while the gel form can cause skin irritation and the buccal form can cause gum irritation.
Contrary to common belief there is no evidence showing that TRT increase the risk of cardiovascular events and prostate cancer. If you are taking TRT, regular follow-up appointments with your doctor are important.
7. Are there natural ways to increase testosterone levels?
Improving your overall health can help to boost testosterone levels naturally. This can be done by:
- Getting enough rest. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep per night and rearrange your schedule to make rest a top priority.
- Maintaining a healthy weight. Losing weight can help increase testosterone levels.
- Staying active. Regular physical activity helps your brain send out testosterone-boosting signals.
- Reducing stress. Cutting back on long working hours and increasing daily relaxation activities such as reading or listening to music can help.
- Eating healthily.
8. What advice can you give to someone whose testosterone deficiency is affecting their relationships?
The lack of awareness about TD usually presents as a libido problem among couples where a man shows low desire, lack of energy and disengagement from the one he loves.
To start, have an open, honest conversation about the problems and what it takes to fix them. Talking to a loved one can also help. People you are close to may have noticed changes that you haven’t and they can also provide you with support and advice.
Know that TD symptoms are treatable. The thought of talking about intimate details of your life with your doctor can be embarrassing and off-putting for many men—don’t be reluctant to make an appointment with your doctor.
Successful identification and management of testosterone deficiency can return a man’s vitality, improve overall health and restore energy levels so that once again a fulfilling sex life can be established.
See also: Low Testosterone: Symptoms and Treatments
9. How can I prevent TD?
Many lifestyle factors increase the risk of TD. In particular, there is increasing awareness of the importance of maintaining a normal BMI and preventing chronic metabolic conditions, including Type 2 diabetes.
You should maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly and avoid becoming overweight. Stress, smoking and alcohol consumption also increase the risk of hypogonadism and should be avoided.
10. Is it safe to be on testosterone treatment and take drugs for erectile dysfunction at the same time?
Yes, it is safe to be on TRT and take drugs for erectile dysfunction (ED). ED and low libido are the most common symptom of testosterone deficiency. Usually you are given a pill for this type of issue without further investigation of what could be the root cause of the problem.
However, in around one in five men ED is only half the problem. The pill might work, at least for a while, but then TD gets worse and ED comes back.
That is why it is recommended that all men with ED should have their testosterone measured and treated if it’s low and associated with sexual dysfunction.
For more information visit low-testosterone.uk
This article on tackling testosterone deficiency was funded by Besins Healthcare (UK), the company was consulted on the scientific accuracy of the article and conducted a review for compliance purposes.
If you want to read more about tackling testosterone deficiency and men’s health, click here to read about infertility on Celebrity Angels.
