Men who have low testosterone levels in their bodies may be prescribed by their doctors to take testosterone to boost their T. They have to raise their T to the normal range because they may encounter problems that can bring many short-term and long-term effects on their physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive functions.
What is testosterone?
Produced in the testicles, testosterone is a sex hormone that naturally occurs in men. It is also present in women, produced in the ovaries and the adrenal gland, but in much smaller amounts.
Throughout a man’s life, testosterone plays a major role in various processes, including:
- The development of prostate, testes, and other male reproductive tissues
- Increase in bone and muscle mass
- Growth of body hair
- Sperm development
- Sexual arousal
Testosterone also helps in regulating mood, mental health, and red blood cell production.
What are the normal testosterone levels in men?
The normal testosterone levels in men vary according to age. From birth, they usually follow an upward trend, peak at around age 20, and then gradually decline year after year after age 30.
Measured in nanograms per deciliter, the following are the healthy testosterone levels in men per age bracket:
Babies and children
- Age 0 to 5 months: 75 – 400
- Age 6 months to 9 years: <7 – 20
- Age 10 years to 11 years: <7 – 130
Puberty stage
- Age 12 years to 13 years: <7 – 800
- Age 14 years: <7- 1,200
- Age 15 years to 16 years: 100 – 1,200
Adulthood
- Age 17 years to 18 years: 300 – 1,200
- Age 19 years and older: 240 – 950
What is low testosterone?
Low testosterone occurs if the body does not produce enough testosterone. If you undergo a testosterone level test and receive a test result that shows a testosterone level that is below the normal testosterone level range, it means you have low testosterone, and you should talk to a doctor at the earliest opportunity.
Having low testosterone levels can cause several signs and symptoms that can negatively impact various aspects of your health, such as:
1. Decreased muscle strength
Low testosterone can slow down the proper growth and development of your muscles, resulting to weakened muscles or muscle loss.
2. Bone loss
Low testosterone can cause weakness of the bone, and lead to bone density, increasing your risk of fractures, osteoporosis, and other bone disorders.
3. Decreased libido and energy
Low testosterone can reduce your desire for sex and motivation do any physical tasks.
4. Erectile difficulties
Low testosterone can make getting an erection or maintaining an erection for sex difficult, and this can potentially lead to erectile dysfunction.
5. Reduced sperm count
Low testosterone prevents your body from producing high amounts of sperm, which can eventually cause fertility problems.
6. Disturbed mood
Low testosterone can increase your stress, anxiety, and depression levels, and can frequently leave you in a bad mood.
7. Impaired brain skills
Low testosterone can affect your memory, concentration, problem solving abilities, analytical skills, and others.
What is testosterone replacement therapy?
Testosterone replacement therapy is a treatment method used for low testosterone problems. It is often suggested by doctors to men who are dealing with abnormally low testosterone levels in their bodies. It comes in different forms, such as:
- Testosterone injections – These are directly injected into the skin to introduce more testosterone into the body.
- Testosterone pills – These are taken orally to increase testosterone levels.
- Testosterone patches – These are skin patches contain testosterone, and they are often applied onto the arm, shoulders, or neck.
- Testosterone gels – These are administered onto the skin to allow testosterone to be absorbed and get into the bloodstream.
To get testosterone replacement therapy, you have to have a doctor’s prescription. There are many side effects that may arise if you start a testosterone replacement therapy on your own, without medical supervision.
What are the side effects of taking testosterone?
Just like other medications, testosterone can cause various side effects that can leave you in a much worse condition if you take it without prescription, take more than the prescribed dosage, or do something without your doctor’s approval.
If you have any of the diseases or illnesses below, you should not even attempt to take testosterone as it can be really dangerous:
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Heart disease
- Breast cancer
- Prostate cancer
You have to have a serious discussion with your doctor prior to any testosterone treatment and be honest about your medical history to not suffer from the negative impacts testosterone can bring.
There were studies that found that testosterone can also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. According to the findings, male participants who were 65 years old and older and took testosterone boosters for a period of 90 days showed a significant increase in their risk of heart attack and stroke. Compared to the data gathered before they underwent testosterone treatment, their risk of these heart problems doubled after the therapy.
In addition, there were studies that discovered that taking testosterone worsened obstructive sleep apnea. Male sleep apnea patients who took part in the research were observed to encounter more difficulties in breathing and airflow while they were asleep, and also showed a higher risk of irregular heartbeats, heart attacks, and strokes.
Because taking testosterone can increase testosterone levels in the body in an artificial way, your body’s natural hormonal balance is disturbed, causing physical changes like hair loss, breast enlargement, and acne. It can also mess up your body’s ability to produce sperm, resulting to a significantly reduced sperm count and poor sperm structure and motility. Eventually, this can lead to infertility, robbing you and your partner the opportunity to reproduce.
To protect against all of these side effects, always get professional medical opinion. Do not think that your internet research is enough to do the treatment on your own. Go visit your doctor and follow their prescribed dosage and advice.
