Contents
Testosterone
– the hormone responsible for the brutal appearance of men is also produced in the female body. Therefore, we can talk about reduced testosterone levels in relation to both male and female health. Let’s start with men’s problems:
Testosterone is the most important sex hormone in men. It is mainly produced in the male genital organs and is responsible for the development of a deep voice, large and high-quality muscles and body hair. Testosterone is also responsible for spermatogenesis.
Reduced testosterone levels have an extremely negative impact on a man’s health, both physically and psychologically.
The general normal value for men is 12-33 nmol/l (345-950 ng/dl). Testosterone levels change with age. Older men have significantly lower levels of the hormone than teenagers. Testosterone levels increase during puberty, then gradually decrease after age 30.
The sharp physiological decline in testosterone levels after age 50 is sometimes called andropause or male menopause. Low testosterone levels may be a sign of a condition called hypogonadism.
Hypogonadism
is a condition in which the body is unable to produce normal amounts of testosterone. The disease occurs due to gonadal insufficiency or problems with the pituitary gland. Testosterone levels can also be affected by common conditions such as obesity, autoimmune diseases, or type 2 diabetes.
testosterone in women
A woman’s body also produces testosterone, but in much smaller quantities than a man’s. Normal testosterone levels in women are 15-70 ng/dL. In the female body, testosterone is produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. Just like in men, low testosterone levels in women can be the result of various diseases. Typically, women experience a sharp decline in testosterone levels during menopause. Low levels of the hormone testosterone in women can lead to decreased libido, lack of energy and depression.
Symptoms of low testosterone
Hypogonadism in men can be congenital or acquired due to injury or infection.
Symptoms of hypogonadism in pubertal boys:
- Lack of muscle development
- High voice
- Lack of facial and body hair
- Slow growth of the penis and testicles
- Limbs too long
Symptoms of hypogonadism in men:
- Infertility
- Lack of sexual desire
- erectile disfunction
- Sparse facial and body hair
- False gynecomastia – deposition of adipose tissue in the breast area according to the female type
As testosterone levels decline with age, a man may also experience:
- Fatigue
- Reducing sexual desire
- Decreased concentration
- Sleep problems
As you can tell, these symptoms are not specific, they can occur for various reasons and not only with low testosterone levels. To correctly diagnose hypogonadism, a urologist usually conducts a clinical examination with a mandatory medical history, based on the results of which laboratory tests are prescribed. After establishing the fact of a decrease in testosterone levels, it is necessary to establish the cause of this condition. Here you may need consultations with related specialists (therapist, endocrinologist) and such instrumental diagnostic methods as radiography, ultrasound, tomography. Only by analyzing the results of a comprehensive examination can a doctor establish the correct diagnosis.