We already wrote here about the function, average, and high testosterone values. Today we will talk about low testosterone, its causes, and symptoms.
The norm of testosterone is 10-34 nmol/l or 330-950 ng/dl. Testosterone levels begin to decline at age 30-35; even in healthy men, it is a normal age-related change because the production of the hormone slows down by about 1% annually.
However, there are other reasons for its decline:
- Surgical removal of testicles for medical reasons;
- Bad habits: smoking, alcohol, psychotropic substances;
- Sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work;
- Acute and chronic stress (adrenaline blocks the action of testosterone);
- Work with hazardous and harmful factors, toxic substances;
- Hypertension, cardiovascular diseases;
- Taking medications (hypotensive, opioids, corticosteroids, ketoconazole, hormones);
- High levels of bilirubin, which destroys testosterone;
- Renal insufficiency;
- Endocrine diseases, abnormalities associated with a shift in the hormonal background;
- Obesity, diabetes mellitus;
- Inflammatory diseases, infections;
- Elevated blood lipoprotein levels;
- Genetic abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, Kalman syndrome, and Klinefelter syndrome.
At first, the decrease in testosterone may not show up at all outwardly, or it may cause a number of the following symptoms:
- Muscle weakness, fatigue;
- Shortness of breath with minimal physical exertion;
- Sweating;
- Libido disorder (decreased or absent sexual desire);
- Poor erection, insufficient or absent during stimulation and in the morning;
- Rapid weight gain. Fat accumulates in the area of the chest and abdomen;
- Reduced body hair, especially on the chest and shins;
- Mood swings, irritability, decreased emotional background;
- Reduced ability to work, procrastination;
- Sleep disorders include difficulty falling asleep and lack of rest after sleeping.
Depending on the spectrum of problems that have come to the fore, a lack of testosterone can be identified by a urologist, endocrinologist, or (psychiatrist) psychotherapist.