08/02/2019
Here are six telltale symptoms of low testosterone. If you experience any of them, head to your doctor. “Testosterone in many circumstances is not an ultimate solution for everything that ails you,”
“It’s very important that men truly have clinical hypogonadism before they get treated.”
1. Your s*x drive has tanked.
It can be difficult to know if a lack of s*x drive might be a problem, or if it’s only a temporary reaction to something that’s going on in your life, such as stress at work. A rule of thumb: If you or your partner is bothered by it, speak to your doctor. Substantial research shows that as s*xual drive wanes, so too does libido, Walsh said.
2. Your nighttime erections are gone.
As soon as you first notice that you have lost spontaneous erections, make an appointment with your doctor, Walsh said. This is a common symptom of hypogonadism in men, but it’s also strongly connected to cardiovascular health. So it’s a good idea to get checked out sooner rather than later in case you might have an underlying cardiovascular problem.
3. You see strange physical symptoms, such as breast enlargement or loss of body hair.
Testosterone is involved with sweat production, hair follicle development, and hair growth. It is also linked with estrogen, a hormone that plays a role in breast development. If you notice breast growth or realize you’re not shaving as frequently as you used to, you might benefit from testing.
4. You’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Testosterone is necessary to maintain normal bone density, Walsh said. Studies of prostate cancer patients have shown that bone health suffers when men are robbed of testosterone, but hormone replacement therapy can maintain normal bone health in some men. Walsh recommends that all men with osteoporosis receive testosterone screening.
5. You feel as if you’re going through menopause.
Very low testosterone in men can trigger menopause-like symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, Eisenberg explained. “When you put these men on testosterone, they feel better right away,” he said. “It’s really gratifying that there’s really a lot we can do.”
If you have any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor about testosterone screening. You may want to ask for a test that gives you your total, bound, and free testosterone levels, which together give you a more complete picture of what’s going on.
