Low Testosterone
Get Back to Your Old Self
A man’s testosterone levels naturally decrease with age. Most men’s testosterone production peaks in their teens and 20s. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, as you get older, your testosterone level declines about 1% a year after age 30 or 40. Other issues can cause low testosterone as well, at any age. But you don’t have to live with the effects – you have options. We believe one of the first steps in dealing with low testosterone is to understand why it’s happening and how your body produces testosterone.
*If you’re a woman with low testosterone levels, please visit our hormonal imbalance page. This page is just for men.
How Is Testosterone Produced?
As a man, you probably already know that testosterone is the male sex hormone. But you may not know much about how your body produces it, or what other roles testosterone plays in your overall health.
The hypothalamus in your brain controls testosterone production. Your hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which triggers your pituitary gland to release luteinizing hormone (LH). LH then travels to your gonads and stimulates the production and release of testosterone. Abnormal testosterone levels result when one or more of these of these organs aren’t working properly.
What Is Testosterone Responsible For?
Testosterone is responsible for more than your sex life. This hormone helps maintain your:
- Sex drive
- Sperm production
- Bone density
- Fat distribution
- Muscle strength and mass
- Facial and body hair
- Red blood cell production
So, you can see how having low testosterone can affect more than your libido.
What Is Low Testosterone?
In males, normal testosterone levels range between 300 ng/dL and 1000 ng/dL. (ng/dL means nanograms per deciliter.) Low testosterone is any level below the minimum 300 ng/dL. Your levels are determined through one or more blood tests.
How Common Is Low Testosterone?
Every man will eventually have a decline in testosterone levels, so it’s very common as men age. It’s less common in younger, physically fit men. More on that later.
What Are the Symptoms of Low Testosterone?
Low testosterone symptoms in men may include:
- Low sex drive or loss of sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction (ED)
- Shrinking testicles
- Loss of armpit and pubic hair
- Night sweats
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Loss of energy
- Lack of motivation
- Hot flashes
- Fat distribution to the abdominal area (visceral obesity)
Keep in mind that ED, mood swings, insomnia, and hot flashes can be caused by something other than low testosterone. That’s why it’s important to seek the help of healthcare professional.
What Causes Low Testosterone?
In males, normal testosterone levels range between 300 ng/dL and 1000 ng/dL. (ng/dL means nanograms per deciliter.) Low testosterone is any level below the minimum 300 ng/dL. Your levels are determined through one or more blood tests.
- Injury or infection of the testes
- Pituitary disease or hormone disorder
- Chemotherapy or radiation
- Some medications, especially corticosteroids and opiates
- Stress
- Alcoholism
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Thyroid disorder
- Overtraining
Getting to the root cause of your low testosterone will determine your course of treatment.
Low Testosterone FAQs
In addition to answering some of the basic questions about low testosterone above, we want to add some frequently asked questions here.
Q: Does masturbating cause low testosterone?
A: In a word, no. There is no evidence to show that masturbation and ejaculation affect testosterone levels.
Q: Does a vasectomy cause low testosterone?
A: No. This is a myth. A vasectomy does not affect your testosterone levels or your virility. A vasectomy also will not affect your sex life.
Q: Does alcohol lower testosterone?
A: Yes, it can. Studies show that heavy alcohol consumption (more than 2 drinks a day) can lower testosterone levels.
Q: Does marijuana use lower testosterone?
A: Yes, and no. It may depend on the frequency of use, how long you’ve been smoking weed or consuming edibles, and more. Studies show that marijuana use can lower testosterone, while others show levels can temporarily be boosted. More research needs to be done.
How Cima Health Can Help
Cima Health provides restorative, lifelong solutions that target the root cause of your low testosterone. Your care will start out with a comprehensive evaluation to assess your overall health. We will also ask questions about your health history, what medications you’re taking, home life, lifestyle, and habits before making recommendations for an integrative plan of care. Together, we come up with non-invasive and alternative treatments that can help you live a healthy and active life. Treating and preventing low testosterone can involve several treatment modalities, all of which you can receive in one location. They include: With all of these modalities, you may be able to increase your testosterone levels and feel like your old self again.Functional Medicine
Low testosterone can be caused by many things, so we will need to rule out other conditions and issues before beginning any treatment. In addition to a physical exam and evaluation of your symptoms, the functional medicine team will perform a full blood chemistry analysis to get to the root cause of your low T. You may need multiple blood tests, as hormone levels can fluctuate daily.
We may recommend supplements to help keep your testosterone levels up, and Dr. Cima will coordinate your care with the other members of the Cima Health team. You can naturally increase your testosterone levels in several ways, including:
- Eating a healthy diet
- Losing weight
- Exercising
- Reducing your blood pressure
- Maintaining good cholesterol levels
- Managing your blood sugars
- Limiting your alcohol intake
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic adjustments help your nervous system regulate hormones, including testosterone. Regular chiropractic care can help you feel more energized and regulate testosterone naturally. And if aches and pains are preventing you from leading an active lifestyle, chiropractic adjustments will ease back pain, neck pain, knee pain, and more.
Our highly trained Palm Beach Gardens chiropractic care team includes:
Medical Care
Our medical care team offers possibly the best and most effective treatment for low testosterone – low testosterone therapy, or TRT. If you’ve tried all of the other natural ways to increase your testosterone levels but they’re still low and you’re still feeling the effects, TRT is an option.
What Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy?
Testosterone replacement therapy treats low testosterone in men. If you and the doctor decide TRT is right for you, under the supervision of a physician, you are given controlled doses of testosterone through a patch, injections, a gel, and other delivery methods, depending on what method is right for you. TRT can help reverse the symptoms of low testosterone, including:
- Reduced sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction
- Shrinking testicles
- Loss of armpit and pubic hair
- Hot flashes
- Low sperm count
Studies show that TRT can even increase bone mineral density (BMD) and strength in some older men with Low-T.
Does Testosterone Therapy Have Side Effects?
Treatment for Low-T does come with the remote possibility of some side effects. These can include:
- Acne
- Worsening sleep apnea
- Breast tenderness or swelling
- Swelling in the ankles
- Increased red blood cell count, which can lead to clotting
You may need regular blood testing to check your testosterone levels, as well as to monitor for red blood cell counts.
If you choose TRT, you can reduce your risk by:
- Taking the lowest effective dosage
- Getting regular follow-up care
- Losing weight
- Eating a healthy diet
- Exercising
For most men, the increased energy and libido that come with TRT outweigh the risks. Men typically notice an improvement in symptoms within 4-6 six weeks of starting testosterone replacement therapy. Certain such as an increase in muscle mass may take longer, from 3-6 months.
Now, not all men are candidates for TRT. Certain medical conditions such as cancer, recent heart attack or stroke, severe urinary tract symptoms, or plans to become a father in the near future would be contraindications for testosterone replacement therapy. Dr. Erin Shaw, MD and Dr. Jeffrey Brown, DO will evaluate you tor TRT to see if you are a good candidate. They may be able to help you with other issues as well.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy can also play a role in your weight loss plans. Massage can reduce stress, and therefore stress eating. It can also reduce muscle, back, and joint pain, which are keeping you inactive. Massage can also be helpful in recovering after a workout. Regular massage can also reduce anxiety, make you feel more relaxed, and improve your sleep.
Physical Fitness
The final component to restoring your testosterone levels and keeping them in the normal range is getting plenty of exercise and losing weight if obesity is a causative factor of your Low T. Our physical fitness team of personal trainers can help develop an exercise and weight loss regimen to help you increase your testosterone levels. We will start with your current capabilities and help you gain the strength and confidence to reach your goals.
In particular, we may recommend weightlifting and high-intensity interval training (HIIT), both of which have been shown to increase testosterone levels naturally.
You should know that chronic endurance exercise such as running and cycling can actually lower your testosterone. Known as overtraining, excessive endurance exercise can lower your testosterone from 20-40%. The good news is that after a few months of moderate (not excessive) exercise, your testosterone levels should return to normal.
Read What Our Patients Have to Say
Book an Appointment
Having low testosterone is not as bad as it sounds. It’s a very treatable condition. If you’re looking for low testosterone treatment in West Palm Beach, book an appointment today. One of our doctors will do a comprehensive examination to get to the root cause of your Low-T and develop an integrative plan of care to balance your hormone levels and inspire you to achieve whole-body wellness.
