Hypogonadism is commonly referred to as low testosterone, or low-T. Low-T can cause a range of symptoms including lack of libido (loss of sex drive), fatigue, low energy, sleep disturbances, difficulty losing weight and depression. Long term effects can include night sweats and osteoporosis (soft bones).

Primary hypogonadism, or testicular failure, is a condition where the testicles do not make enough testosterone. Secondary hypogonadism occurs when the brain (pituitary and/or hypothalamus) do not send appropriate signals (luteinizing hormone, LH) to the testicles telling them to make testosterone. Acquired hypogonadism refers to low testosterone related to aging.

As in all medical conditions, evaluation begins with an appointment where your urologist can take your medical history, perform a physical exam, and order appropriate blood tests.

In a male with symptoms of low-T, a testosterone level can easily be measured with a simple blood test. Testosterone levels naturally fluctuate during the day and peak in the morning between 7 and 9am. For this reason, it is best to measure a testosterone level in the early morning. A normal testosterone level is between 300 and 800 ng/dl. Other lab tests that may get ordered include a prolactin, LH (luteinizing hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), complete blood count, and PSA (prostate specific antigen).

There are many options for the management of Low-T:

After initiation of replacement therapy, most men see their symptoms markedly improve within one to two weeks.

There are side effects of testosterone replacement to be aware of.

If you are interested in learning more about testosterone replacement, make an appointment with one of our Urologists today.

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Low T - Regional Urology