Understanding Low Testosterone

  • Added:
    Feb 22, 2013
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Understanding Low Testosterone Photo by John Andrews

In 2006 the American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) published an article in their peer-reviewed journal (American Family Physician) about testosterone treatments. This was a very thorough article and provided key statistics to understand the problem of low testosterone. Since not everyone has the time or inclination to read the entire article, this is a brief summary of what we know about the causes, symptoms and treatments for low testosterone levels in men.

Where do problems with testosterone begin?
• Age: As men age their testosterone levels begin to drop at the rate of about 1-2 percent every year. This is natural. So age is one of the causes of lowering testosterone levels.
• Testicular dysfunction: If the reproductive organs are not functioning properly, then testosterone levels will take a hit as well. Men of all ages can experience low testosterone for this reason. It might be caused by a genetic problem, physical damage to the organs or it might be a symptom of an underlying disease.
• Pituitary Dysfunction: The pituitary gland secrets hormones that regulate the production of testosterone. If this gland passes the wrong message, then less testosterone will be produced.

What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of low testosterone are somewhat of a mixed bag. Older men have a difficult time differentiating between mere signs of aging and symptoms of low testosterone. Either way they experience muscle loss, low libido, low concentration, depression, lowering bone density and weakness. If you are feeling a couple of these symptoms, it would not hurt to schedule an appointment to test your blood and check your testosterone levels.

What are some methods of treatment?
There are many methods of treatment but the two main ones are:
• TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy)
This includes any form by which testosterone is introduced into the body. The main forms of TRT are:
o Injections: These regular shots are quick to alleviate the symptoms of low testosterone but one of the side-effects is that it is easy for the hormones to be thrown out of balance.
o Tablets: They are effective to some degree if the problem is not too severe.
o Gels: This relatively new method of absorbing testosterone through a gel that is applied on the torso or other parts is promising. However, care must be taken to avoid transfer of this gel onto other people, especially children.
o Patches: Testosterone patches usually have to be worn in a discreet place for 24 hours for a specific period of time. They are convenient and effective.

• Natural testosterone boosters
The good thing about low testosterone is that it can be remedied easily once it a diagnosis is made. Many researchers and people also believe that certain extracts help naturally boost levels of testosterone. One of them is extract of the fenugreek seed that the supplement Ageless Male contains. While testimonials of Ageless Male have been positive there are many other extracts that have similar abilities to help the body produce more testosterone naturally which is the ideal solution and comes without side-effects.

We hope that this article has been helpful in understanding the causes, symptoms and treatments for low testosterone. Once you know whether you have low testosterone—it’s all downhill from there!

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You can find more about the supplement Ageless Male in testimonials of Ageless Male.


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