What does it mean to have low testosterone?
If you have low testosterone, your testes don’t make sufficient testosterone, which is an essential hormone for men’s health and wellness. Many different things can influence your testosterone level, including:
- Age
- Weight
- Lifestyle choices like smoking
- Steroid use
- Thyroid problems
- Varicoceles, or varicose veins in your scrotum
The Y Factor team is here to uncover the cause of your low testosterone so they can help you feel like yourself again.
How does low testosterone diagnosis work?
During your first visit to The Y Factor, you’ll typically have a full physical exam, testicular imaging, and diagnostic testing as needed.
The first step is measuring your blood testosterone levels with a simple blood test. You might need a few different diagnostics to verify low testosterone because levels can fluctuate. Peak testosterone levels occur in the morning and then go down during the day.
What causes low testosterone?
There are many possible causes for decreased testosterone, some of which include:
- Testicular injury
- Infection of the testes
- Chemotherapy
- Some medications
- Some systemic illnesses
- Alcohol abuse
- Illicit drug use
- Liver disease
- Genetic disorders
- Obesity
No matter the cause, The Y Factor team is here to help.
What are the symptoms of low testosterone?
Low testosterone can cause a variety of problems, such as:
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Poor libido
- Insomnia
- Concentration problems
- Poor memory
- Erectile dysfunction
- Infertility
Low testosterone can negatively affect almost every part of your life.
How is low testosterone treated?
Your specific treatment plan depends on your testosterone level, your general health, your desire to retain fertility, and other factors. The Y Factor team often recommends natural testosterone enhancement, which includes medications and lifestyle changes to boost your body’s testosterone production. Benefits of natural testosterone enhancement include:
- Make your own testosterone
- No testicular shrinkage
- Maintains your fertility
- No expensive, frequent shots
Synthetic testosterone, which usually comes in injection form but can also come in gels, patches, creams, and pellets, is available for men who would benefit most from that type of replacement. But, it can have some significant drawbacks.
Common side effects of synthetic testosterone include decreased fertility, gradual testicle shrinkage, blood thickening, liver inflammation, and prostate swelling. Also, synthetic testosterone leaves you dependent on it to feel your best.
The Y Factor team can help with low testosterone, so you feel your best. Call the office nearest you today.
