32 HOO’s HEALTHY
Wise Choices for You & Your Family
THE LOW DOWN ON
LOW T
Testosterone is known as a male hormone but it is
present in the bodies of women and men. In men,
it is produced by the testicles and is the main sex
hormone. It is responsible for proper male sexual
development and function. Testosterone is important
to fertility because it assists with the daily production
of a supply of sperm. It also helps maintain a healthy
bone density, builds muscle mass and strength, and
regulates distribution of fat and production of red
blood cells. In women, small amounts of testosterone
are produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands,
along with estrogen. This is much smaller than what
is produced in a man’s body but it plays an important
part in maintaining libido, bone & muscle mass.
What causes low T and what
are the symptoms? The amount of
testosterone produced by the body decreases with
age in both men and women. A condition called
hypogonadism (low T) results in men when the
testosterone levels drop below normal (about 240
ng/DL). In men, the slow decline in testosterone
levels can begin after age 30 and becomes more
noticeable in his 40s. Hypogonadism can also be
caused by medical conditions not related to aging and
therefore may sometimes be experienced by teens
and young adults. Issues with the testicles resulting
from damage, an infection, or a congenital condition
can interfere with the production of testosterone.
Also, issues with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus
(regulates the secretion of pituitary hormones) can
interfere with proper testosterone production even if
the testicles have a normal structure.
Symptoms in men include fatigue, depression,
erectile dysfunction, a decrease in bone mass and a
decline in libido. A blood test to check testosterone
levels is used to reach a diagnosis since these
symptoms are not unique to hypogonadism.
Low testosterone may occur in women who are
entering perimenopause and menopause, as
testosterone production by the ovaries declines.
Women with low T may experience fatigue, a decline
in libido, moodiness, and a decline in muscle and
bone mass.
How is low testosterone
treated in men? We asked Dr Prakash
Thiruppathi, a fertility specialist at the Columbus
Center for Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility,
about the process for treating hypogonadism.
Someone who suspects they have low testosterone
should consult his doctor. Other conditions may
cause the same types of symptoms. Your doctor will
test you for other conditions such as heart disease
and diabetes first, and determine if you are eligible
for testosterone therapy.
Men with certain medical conditions, such as prostate
cancer, may not be eligible for testosterone therapy.
Dr. Thiruppathi says, “Men who are trying to conceive
should not receive testosterone therapy as it will
make them infertile.” Testosterone therapy does have
a few possible side effects in addition to low sperm
production. Dr. Thiruppathi advises, “Men undergoing
testosterone therapy should be monitored for side
effects, such as blood thickening or prostate growth.”
Can low testosterone be
treated in women? There is a lot
less research data about low T in women, but
testosterone therapy may benefit some women who
experience symptoms. For women who are eligible
for treatment, very small amounts of testosterone
can be included in a hormone therapy treatment.
When asked about possible unwanted side effects,
like growth of body hair, Dr Thiruppathi said, “Those
are symptoms of high testosterone and should not
occur if your treatment has the proper balance of
estrogen and testosterone.”