The Dangers of Low Testosterone

   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.