Low Male Testosterone Level
  Testosterone Low, Male
 Signs and symptoms
 Conditions that suggest it
 Contributing risk factors
 Conditions suggested by it
 What else it can lead to
 Treatment
 



Low Male Testosterone Level: Overview
A 1996 study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine followed three groups of men. One group was given testosterone and prescribed a strength training program, one group was given testosterone and told not to exercise and one group was just given a training program without testosterone. It was no surprise that the group which exercised on testosterone gained the most muscle and lost the most fat, but the group which took testosterone without exercise actually had greater improvement in muscle and fat composition than the group which trained without it. You can’t build muscle without it!

Causes and Development
Some causes of low testosterone levels include congenital problems (such as deficiencies of male hormones and rare malformation syndromes) and acquired problems that include aging, chronic illness, drugs, starvation, stress, head trauma, infections, cancers, surgeries, alcoholism, removal of or trauma to the testicles, and infection or twisting of the testicles in their sac. In addition, certain drugs compete with testosterone in the body.


Signs, symptoms & indicators of Low Male Testosterone Level:
Lab Values - HormonesConfirmed low testosterone levels is a sign or symptom of Low Male Testosterone Level  Confirmed low testosterone levels

Counter-indicators:
Confirmed high testosterone levels strongly contraindicates Low Male Testosterone Level  Confirmed high testosterone levels

Symptoms - Aging
Health declining with age may be a sign or symptom of Low Male Testosterone Level  Health declining with age

Symptoms - Hair
Reduced underarm/pubic hair growth is often a sign or symptom of Low Male Testosterone Level  Reduced underarm/pubic hair growth

Symptoms - Metabolic
Low energy/stamina is often a sign or symptom of Low Male Testosterone Level  Low energy/stamina

Counter-indicators:
High energy/stamina often contraindicates Low Male Testosterone Level  High energy/stamina

Symptoms - Mind - Emotional
Impatient/hostile disposition may be a sign or symptom of Low Male Testosterone Level  Impatient/hostile disposition

Symptoms - Mind - General
Being a lethargic person is often a sign or symptom of Low Male Testosterone Level  Being highly lethargic or being a lethargic person

Counter-indicators:
Being a motivated person often contraindicates Low Male Testosterone Level  Being highly motivated or being a motivated person

Symptoms - Skeletal
Morning stiffness is often a sign or symptom of Low Male Testosterone Level  Morning stiffness
Joint pain/swelling/stiffness may be a sign or symptom of Low Male Testosterone Level  Joint pain/swelling/stiffness

Conditions that suggest Low Male Testosterone Level:
CirculationCoronary Disease / Heart Attack often suggests Low Male Testosterone Level  Coronary Disease / Heart Attack
Researchers at Columbia University Medical School studied 55 men undergoing X-ray exams of their arteries and found that those with a lower testosterone level had higher degrees of heart disease (blockage of the coronary arteries). This study also found that the protective HDL cholesterol levels were higher in men with higher testosterone levels.

Low testosterone is linked to hypertension, obesity, atherosclerosis and increased waist-to-hip ratio - all of these being heart attack risk factors. Administration of testosterone to men has been reported to decrease the risk factors for heart attack.

Hormones
Low Sex Drive strongly suggests Low Male Testosterone Level  Low Sex Drive
Progesterone Low or Estrogen Dominance often suggests Low Male Testosterone Level  Progesterone Low or Estrogen Dominance
Testosterone is converted into estrogen naturally. When this conversion is overactive the result is too little testosterone and too much estrogen. High levels of estrogen also trick the brain into thinking that enough testosterone is being produced, thereby reducing the natural production of testosterone.

Immunity
HIV/AIDS often suggests Low Male Testosterone Level  HIV/AIDS
An estimated 45% of men with untreated AIDS and 25% of asymptomatic, untreated HIV-infected men experience low testosterone levels. Both men and women may be negatively affected by testosterone deficiency.

Mental
Depression often suggests Low Male Testosterone Level  Depression
Depression can be caused by low levels of certain hormones, including testosterone.

Musculo-Skeletal
Osteoporosis - Osteopenia often suggests Low Male Testosterone Level  Osteoporosis - Osteopenia
Some 30% of men with spinal osteoporosis have long-standing testosterone deficiency, and one-third of men with testosterone deficiency have subnormal bone density that puts them at risk of fractures.

Nutrients
Zinc Requirement often suggests Low Male Testosterone Level  Zinc Requirement
(This relationship of testosterone levels to zinc status does not apply to women.)

Studies support the use of zinc supplementation in the treatment of low sperm count especially in the presence of low testosterone levels. Both sperm count and testosterone levels rose in men with initially low testosterone levels. Zinc status should be evaluated in men with decreased serum testosterone levels. [Nutrition Report, September-October, 1996;14(7): p.52]

Uro-Genital
Andropause/Male Menopause strongly suggests Low Male Testosterone Level  Andropause/Male Menopause

Risk factors for Low Male Testosterone Level:
AgingPremature/Signs of Aging often increases risk of Low Male Testosterone Level  Premature/Signs of Aging

Hormones
Hypogonadism, Male increases risk of Low Male Testosterone Level  Hypogonadism, Male

Symptoms - Food - Intake
(Very) low fat/oil intake often increases risk of Low Male Testosterone Level  (Very) low fat/oil intake

Symptoms - Mind - Emotional
A high-stress lifestyle may increase risk of Low Male Testosterone Level  An average-stress/a high-stress lifestyle

Low Male Testosterone Level suggests the following may be present:
ImmunityLow Male Testosterone Level may suggest HIV/AIDS  HIV/AIDS
An estimated 45% of men with untreated AIDS and 25% of asymptomatic, untreated HIV-infected men experience low testosterone levels. Both men and women may be negatively affected by testosterone deficiency.

Low Male Testosterone Level can lead to:
HormonesLow Male Testosterone Level sometimes leads to Low Sex Drive  Low Sex Drive

Recommendations and treatments for Low Male Testosterone Level:
BotanicalTribulus is highly recommended for Low Male Testosterone Level  Tribulus
In patients with below-normal serum testosterone levels, physiological levels were reached after treatment with Tribulus. Amongst patients with normal initial levels, the testosterone level was not significantly changed after treatment.

Diet
High/Increased Fat Diet often helps with Low Male Testosterone Level  High/Increased Fat Diet

Extract
DIM (di-indolmethane)/I3C (Indole-3-Carbinol) often helps with Low Male Testosterone Level  DIM (di-indolmethane)/I3C (Indole-3-Carbinol)
Clinical studies using testosterone injections, creams, or patches have often failed to provide a long-lasting, libido-enhancing effect in aging men. This is because testosterone can be converted to estrogen, which is then taken up by testosterone receptor sites in cells throughout the body. When an estrogen molecule occupies a testosterone receptor site on a cell membrane, it blocks the ability of serum testosterone to induce a healthy hormonal signal. It does not matter how much serum free testosterone is available if excess estrogen is competing for the same cellular receptor sites.

Aromatization is the process of converting testosterone to estrogens. This process increases with age. Aromatase blockers such as DIM and Chrysin can reduce estrogen levels and enhance testosterone levels. If these fail to increase free testosterone and lower excess estradiol, then consider asking your doctor to prescribe the potent aromatase inhibiting drug Arimidex (anastrozole) in the very low dose of 0.5mg, twice per week. Arimidex reduced estradiol by approximately 70% within 24 hours and by approximately 80% after 14 days of daily use.

The usual dose range of DIM for men is 200-400mg per day taken with food. For men involved in a plan of muscular development or fat loss, the dose of bioavailable DIM should be increased to 400-500mg per day.

Hormone
Testosterone is highly recommended for Low Male Testosterone Level  Testosterone
The original and primary use of testosterone is for the treatment of males who have too little or no natural endogenous testosterone production: males with hypogonadism. This hormone replacement therapy helps to maintain serum testosterone levels in the normal range.

Lab Tests/Rule-Outs
Test for Hormones is highly recommended for Low Male Testosterone Level  Test for Hormones
Testosterone Levels, Test is highly recommended for Low Male Testosterone Level  Testosterone Levels, Test
Unfortunately, there is no general agreement on the threshold of testosterone value below which a man would be considered hypogonadal. In the United States, levels below 200 to 300 pmol/l from a morning sample are generally considered low.


KEY
Weak or unproven link: may be a sign or symptom of; may increase risk of; may suggest; sometimes leads toWeak or unproven link: may be a sign or symptom of; may increase risk of; may suggest; sometimes leads to
Strong or generally accepted link: is often a sign or symptom of; often suggests; often increases risk ofStrong or generally accepted link: is often a sign or symptom of; often suggests; often increases risk of
Definite or direct link: is a sign or symptom of; strongly suggests; increases risk ofDefinite or direct link: is a sign or symptom of; strongly suggests; increases risk of
Strong counter-indication: often contraindicatesStrong counter-indication: often contraindicates
Definitely or absolutely counter-indicates: strongly contraindicatesDefinitely or absolutely counter-indicates: strongly contraindicates
Moderately useful: often helps withModerately useful: often helps with
Very useful: is highly recommended forVery useful: is highly recommended for




Last updated: Apr 08, 2012