Here's how the conversation should go. Discussions about testosterone have become much more commonplace. An increasing amount of research into the hormone means that men have more information available about low testosterone. Men who once might not have talked about their symptoms of low testosterone are becoming more open and forthcoming.
You need a doctor's know-how to uncover the actual cause or causes of your symptoms. Your doctor will begin by conducting a basic physical examination and by measuring your testosterone level with a blood test.
If your testosterone level is low, however, your primary care doctor will likely refer you to a doctor who specializes in urology, endocrinology, or sexual medicine. UA Lone Tree.
UA Englewood. UA Littleton. UA Denver. Testosterone production ramps up during puberty and typically decreases gradually with age, starting around age The older the man, the more likely he is to experience below-normal testosterone levels. According to the American Urological Association, about 2 out of 5 men over age 45 and 3 out of 10 men older than 70 have low testosterone.
Food and Drug Administration. Low testosterone is often called hypogonadism , although this refers to low or no production of hormones by the gonads, which are the ovaries in women and the testicles in men.
Signs of low T are often subtle, and some men may not exhibit symptoms at all. Blood prolactin level. If your prolactin level is high, your doctor may repeat the blood test to make sure there is no error. High prolactin levels also may be a sign of pituitary problems or tumors. Blood hemoglobin or Hgb.
Before doing this test, your doctor will look for other reasons for low Hgb such as climate level like climate altitude , sleep apnea, or tobacco smoking. The following also may be done to help with further diagnosis: Follicle stimulating hormone FSH. This test is to check for sperm-making function if you want to have children. You may also need to have semen tests. These tests will be done before any hormone therapy. Estradiol hormone test is done if there are breast symptoms.
HbA1C blood test may be done for diabetes. MRI magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary gland Bone density tests. Karyotype Chromosome tests. This blood test will help check for thickening of the blood. Blood thickening may cause blood clots. If you are at risk for heart disease, your doctor will follow you more closely when you are on TT. It also is important to make health changes to decrease the chances for heart and blood vessel disease.
Your doctor will watch you for signs and symptoms of improvement. Any changes will likely appear within three to six months of treatment.
If your total testosterone blood level returns to normal and you still have symptoms, it is likely that there are other reasons for your symptoms. Your doctor may stop TT and try to find out what else might be the problem. How Do I Take Testosterone?
Here are some details about the five different methods: Transdermal Topical. There are topical gels, creams, liquids and patches. Topical medicines most often last for about four days.
They absorb better if covered with an air- or water- tight dressing. Apply liquids and gels, creams or patches to skin that is dry and without cuts or scratches. Do not wash the area until it is time for the next dose. Wash your hands after you apply liquids, gels or creams. Make sure that other people, especially women and children, do not touch the medicines. There are short-acting and long-acting forms of testosterone injection. The short-acting medicine may be given under the skin or in the muscle.
The long-acting one is usually given in the muscle. Injections are usually given either weekly, every two weeks, or monthly. The buccal dose comes in a patch that you place above your incisor canine or "eyetooth". The medication looks like a tablet but you should not chew or swallow it. The drug is released over 12 hours. This method has fewer harmful side effects on the liver than if the drug is swallowed, but it may cause headaches or cause irritation where you place it.
This form of testosterone comes in a gel. You pump the dose into each nostril, as directed. It is usually taken three times daily. Your doctor will place the testosterone pellets under the skin of your upper hip or buttocks.
Your doctor will give a shot of local anesthesia to numb your skin, then make a small cut and place the pellets inside the fatty tissues underneath your skin. This medication dissolves slowly and is released over about months, depending on the number of pellets. Some of the side effects are as follows: For gels and liquids, there may be some redness at the skin site. With patches, you may have itching and a rash around the area.
A very small number of patients report back pain. For short-acting injections, you may have some reaction at the injection site. Some persons have had serious allergic reactions to the long-acting injection. Because of this, when you get the long-acting injection they will watch you closely for a while afterwards in the medical office. For testosterone pellets, possible adverse effects include swelling, pain, bruising and, rarely, hematoma clotted blood under the skin. During TT, there is increased risk of erythrocytosis abnormal raising of blood hemoglobin and hematocrit.
TT may interrupt normal sperm production. You should not have TT if you plan on having children soon. If you are being treated for Low-T your doctor may suggest added treatment for sperm production. Topical testosterone, specifically gels, creams and liquids, may transfer to others. Women and children are most at risk of harmful effects from contact with them.
0コメント