Contents:
- Medical Video: Patient Education Video: Low Testosterone
- What is the function of testosterone for men?
- What causes testosterone levels to decrease?
- What is the impact on sexual life if testosterone is low?
- Other health problems due to low testosterone
- How do you treat low testosterone?
- When treatment is needed
Medical Video: Patient Education Video: Low Testosterone
Low testosteroneusually occurs in men as they get older. The older you are, the lower your testosterone. About 20% of people in their 60s have low testosterone. And when they were in their 70s, this number increased by 30% and reached 50% in the 80s.
What is the function of testosterone for men?
Testosterone is a sex hormone produced in the male testicles. The function of testosterone is to help the formation of sexual organs when male babies experience a period of growth.
At puberty, testosterone is important for physical development from men to men. With testosterone, boys can have more hair on their bodies, muscles, and deeper sounds. Later in life, male sexual function is also influenced by testosterone.
What causes testosterone levels to decrease?
As you get older, it is normal for your testosterone levels to decrease. In addition, there are other causes that can cause reduced testosterone. This includes injury to the testes, or radiation chemotherapy to treat cancer in the genital area. Ju low testosteroneit can't be caused by pituitary diseases, and drugs that affect this gland, such as steroids.
What is the impact on sexual life if testosterone is low?
Low testosterone can have a big and important impact on men's health, especially in their sexual lives. Low testosteronecan cause erectile difficulties, or difficulty maintaining an erection. Erection may become less frequent or become weaker than before. Libido and the frequency of sex can also be reduced due to low testosterone, andthis will have an impact on the relationship.
Other health problems due to low testosterone
Not only sexual life, health conditions can also be affected by low testosterone. There are several symptoms of low testosteroneto watch out for:
- gain weight
- less energy
- increased body fat and reduced muscle tone
- depression
- difficult to concentrate
Testosterone deficiency can sometimes provide serious long-term effects on the body. Many people with very low testosterone have weak bones, which can cause a condition called osteoporosis. With osteoporosis, you will be more at risk of injury. In addition, low testosterone is associated with heart disease and other diseases.
How do you treat low testosterone?
You can be prescribed testosterone replacement therapy if you have low testosterone. Most men with low testosterone will be prescribed testosterone gel to rub on his arm or shoulder. Another method is to receive injections in the muscles, or you can use them eye patch which slowly releases testosterone into the blood.
You can also use pellets planted under the skin. If you have prostate cancer, you may not undergo therapy to increase testosterone because it can increase cancer growth.
When treatment is needed
When you reach your 40s, you should go to a doctor to check whether your testosterone is low. In addition, every symptom you suspect is a result of low testosteronemust be watched out and treated as soon as possible.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
