Is your libido failing? What about your energy level and muscle mass–are they diminishing? If so, you may have a condition known as low-T. Testosterone is a critical hormone for men. When this hormone gets lower than the normal range, it can cause a host of health issues. Low testosterone affects about 14 million men in the United States.
Let’s look at low-T treatments and if they may be right for you.
Symptoms and Causes of Low-T
While low testosterone can cause low sex drive and even contribute to the development or progression of erectile dysfunction, its health effects are broader than just sexual performance. Other symptoms of low-T include:
- Weaker muscle and bone mass
- Fatigue
- Mental fog
- Depression and anxiety
- Insomnia
- Hot flashes
- Fertility problems
Also called hypogonadism, low-T can begin at any time in a man’s lifespan. However, it is more likely to happen in mid-life and beyond. In other words, men experience a drop in their hormone levels, or andropause, just as women do during menopause.
Besides the aging process, the following health conditions can contribute to lowered hormone levels in men:
- Poorly managed diabetes
- Hypertension
- Liver and kidney disease
- Stress
- Obesity
- HIV/AIDS
- Cancer and cancer treatment
- Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA
Diagnosing and Treating Low-T
If you are experiencing symptoms of low T, you can get the help you need to feel more like yourself again. Your men’s health expert in Phoenix can discuss your concerns and medical history with you and do a simple blood test to determine if you have lowered testosterone levels or if the hormones secreted by your pituitary gland may be responsible for your symptoms. Typically, physicians recommend two blood draws to confirm the need for testosterone supplementation.
The urologist can also help you sort through health and lifestyle factors that may be impacting your libido and other aspects of virility. In fact, some men see improvement in their symptoms when they begin to exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, limit alcohol, stop smoking, lower stress, and lose some weight.
Other men, however, may need hormonal supplementation through prescription testosterone in the form of injections, pellets (TESTOPEL), nasal gels, oral putty, and other delivery methods. Your men’s health specialist will recommend treatments suited to your specific needs and desired outcomes. Most men who receive testosterone treatment feel much more like themselves in as little as four to six weeks as they continue with their care plan.
Low-T Treatment in Gilbert and Phoenix, Arizona
Why not learn if low-T treatment is right for you? Call Ironwood Urology for a consultation with Dr. Desiderio Avila, our board-certified urologist, and men’s health expert. He understands the frustration of the symptoms you may be experiencing, and he can help.
Contact our team at (480) 961-2323, or request your appointment online. We have two convenient locations to serve you in Phoenix and Gilbert, Arizona.
