If your testosterone levels are low, you may notice changes in your sex drive, erections, mood, sleep, energy levels and muscle strength. You may need testosterone replacement therapy to increase your testosterone levels. Living a healthy lifestyle can also help.
Low testosterone can lead to reduced levels of energy and fatigue. A person may feel tired, even after adequate rest, or develop a diminished interest in exercise or movement.
While testosterone definitely plays a role in your sexual function, many men with low levels of testosterone (also referred to as low-T or hypogonadism) can get erections just fine.
A man's ability to produce testosterone starts to decline at about 40 years of age, and levels continue to drop 1 – 3% a year thereafter. It is important to note that just because the levels are dropping after 40 doesn't necessarily mean that all men are candidates for therapy. There must be certain symptoms present.
“Everybody thinks that Viagra is the panacea for all sexual problems. It's not. If low testosterone is the problem, then Viagra, as well as Levitra or Cialis which are similar treatments, won't be the answer,” said Dr Malcolm Carruthers, lead clinician at the Centre for Men's Health and expert in men's hormonal health.
Causes of Low Testosterone
Medicine side effects, such as from chemotherapy. Testicle injury or cancer. Problems with glands in the brain (hypothalamus and pituitary) that control hormone production. Low thyroid function.
The excitement and warm, fuzzy feeling of a new relationship may give your testosterone a boost. A 2015 study found that single men and men in new relationships had higher testosterone levels than men in long-term relationships.
Untreated testosterone deficiency will greatly increase your risk for developing heart disease, osteoporosis, and other age-related diseases.
Exercise. A combination of aerobic (increase in heart rate) and resistance (weightlifting) training has been found to increase the production of testosterone. This also helps prevent the most common diseases that men are most likely to die from, heart disease and cancer.
The only way to know your testosterone level is with a blood test. You may talk to your healthcare provider about a testosterone level test if you have symptoms of low testosterone.
Excess weight, hair-loss treatments, and a sedentary lifestyle are among the factors that can lower testosterone levels. If you're concerned about low testosterone levels, take a look at your everyday habits and way of life.
Any prescription for Testosterone has to be for therapeutic purposes. Doctors prescribing is ultimately sanctioned by The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Age-specific middle tertile levels were 409-558 ng/dL for men 20-24 years old, 413-575 ng/dL for 25-29 years old, 359-498 ng/dL for 30-34 years old, 352-478 ng/dL for 35-39 years old, and 350-473 ng/dL for 40-44 years old.
Normal adult testosterone levels are not necessary for normal erections. There is a gradual decline with age of total and free testosterone levels in healthy men. ED and hypogonadism are common in the aging male, but they may not be causally related.
About a quarter of men said that erection problems started between age 50 and 59, and 40% said they started between age 60 and 69. Having chronic diseases and other risk factors matter with respect to ED, too.
Testosterone treatment usually isn't helpful for ED.
Testosterone treatment does not improve erections in men with normal testosterone levels. And studies show that it does not help men with low testosterone levels if ED is their only symptom.