12/23/2022
Good thing Santa had his testosterone level checked ahead of this busy weekend!
What are some symptoms of "Low T"?
Low T (testosterone), or Hypogonadism, is a fairly common condition we as urologists see and treat. Given how our biological clocks work, we are naturally programmed to lose a percentage of our testosterone with each birthday that passes. In addition to other social or health factors, men with low testosterone may experience lower libido (sexual desire/energy), problems with erections, fatigue, trouble sleeping, trouble gaining lean muscle mass, or in some instances experiencing cardiac or heart issues.
How is it diagnosed?
Hypogonadism is generally diagnosed by looking at a combination of your Total and free testosterone levels, if they are consecutively lower than a certain cut-off point and you are experiencing any of the above symptoms/issues, then it is possible you could be a candidate for treatment.
How is it treated?
There are number of options available for treatment ranging from injections, oral medications, topical therapy (creams, gels, patches) to implants. The factors that determine what patients will go with often depend on preference, coverage, and efficacy.
If you do a quick google search for "Low T," It wouldn't be a surprise that you'll find a lot of posts and articles discussing success or horror stories regarding testosterone therapy. The real truth is somewhere in the middle and a lot of the times it depends on where and from whom patients seek treatment. There are many "pop-up" clinics that will often times blindly follow treatment protocols that may end up being harmful to patients. On the other end of things, there are also providers and clinics that look to treat the patient from a holistic and customized approach with excellent results. Regardless of what path you choose, it is important to have a thorough and informative discussion with your provider about the benefits and risks associated with testosterone therapy before you start it.