Low testosterone is a common medical issue that afflicts millions of men each year. As common as it is, however, this medical condition can cause inconvenience and embarrassment for the sufferer. A man can find it challenging or sometimes impossible to maintain romantic relationships.

Rather than live with the problem, men who suffer from it have a myriad of options for healing from it. You can prepare to undergo treatment for it by understanding how low testosterone therapy works.

Diagnosing Low Testosterone

Before you can be treated for low testosterone, which is also commonly called low T, you need to be officially diagnosed with. Being diagnosed with low T requires you to visit with your primary care doctor or an endocrinologist. This physician will perform a number of tests to determine what your testosterone level is and whether or not you are a candidate for low testosterone therapy.

Low T can affect men of any age; however, it is prevalent in men over the age of 30. Before performing the tests, your physician will ask you about your symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms that are associated with low T include:

• Low sex drive
• Infertility
• Low sperm count
• Inability to achieve or maintain an erection
• Weight gain

Other symptoms that are less common but still present in some cases are:

• Changes in sleep patterns
• Decrease muscle
• Depression
• Reduction in penis size

If you present any of these symptoms to your doctor, you could be approved for undergoing testing to determine if you suffer from low testosterone.

The tests to determine low testosterone involve several blood draws to find out what your testosterone levels are. The normal testosterone in a healthy male is 1000 to 1200 nanograms per deciliter. However, depending on your age and physical condition, your levels can be as low as 300 ng/dl without disrupting your sexual function. If it falls below 300 ng/dl, it will result in you being diagnosed with low T and qualifying for therapy for it.

Low Testosterone Therapy Options 

If you are diagnosed with low T, you have a number of treatment options available to you. Depending on your testosterone blood levels, you could be eligible for using either oral, injected or topical medications that can significantly raise your levels and minimize or eliminate most or all of your low T symptoms.

Oral testosterone is not a commonly prescribed remedy and not available to many patients. Doctors may recommend it if your levels are not significantly decreased or you are not able to tolerate other methods of treating low T.

The two more common options involving using either injected or topical testosterone. The injections are administered in your upper thigh or hip. This location allows the medication to enter your bloodstream directly and work quickly to raise your testosterone levels.

The injections can make your hip or thigh muscle sore, however, and also raise the risk of blood clots. If you have high blood pressure or heart disease, your doctor may recommend that you use topical testosterone to increase your levels.

Topical testosterone is applied to areas away from your heart, such as your upper arm or your lower abdomen. These locations allow the testosterone to get into your bloodstream gradually. It may take up to two months for the levels to increase significantly enough to where you will notice the benefits of the therapy.

During the time that you use testosterone therapy, you will be required to remain under the supervision of your primary care doctor or endocrinologist. You will undergo blood tests every three months to determine if your testosterone levels are increasing satisfactorily. If they not improve with treatment, you could be referred for more in-depth treatment, such as having testosterone implants placed in the muscles of your upper arm. Call us now at 205-352-9141.

These options are some for increasing your testosterone levels and helping you overcome the symptoms of low T. With proper treatment, you can overcome the difficulties associated with the condition.

You may find it easier to resume normal sexual functions and maintain romantic relationships with your significant other. The therapy may have to be a permanent part of your healthcare regimen. Call us now at 205-352-9141.