If you suspect you have low testosterone, the easiest way to know for sure is to have a blood test. From 300-600 ng/dl is average, below 300 is low. If you have no idea whether your testosterone is low, medium or high, then check yourself against the following symptoms of low testosterone.
Low Testosterone Symptoms in Men
- Decreased Sexual Function and Desire – Not feeling up to it? Not driven to do it?[1]
- Infertility – Low sperm count or having trouble making a baby?
- Loss of Hair – Men with male pattern baldness usually have low testosterone.
- Decreased Muscle Mass – While this could be due to inactivity, it could also be due to falling testosterone.
- Osteoporosis or Decreased Bone Density – Have you been getting damaged bones more frequently?
- Obesity – Low testosterone promotes fat gain, particularly around the waist. That is part of the reason that older men often have large waists.[2]
If you have any of the listed symptoms, consider a blood test to know your exact testosterone level. If your testosterone level is low then your doctor will likely recommend one of the following treatments.
Treatment for Low Testosterone
In our previous article we talked about ways to Increase Testosterone Naturally. Medicinal treatments include:
Intramuscular Injections
Testosterone Gels
Testosterone Creams
Testosterone Patches
Testosterone Pellets
What is the Best Low Testosterone Treatment?
Just from looking at the photos above you can see that gels, creams and patches are by far the easiest option, but not the strongest. Injections for example can provide 100x the testosterone that a patch does, but that advantage makes is popular as a bodybuilding aid more than a low testosterone treatment. The pellet requires minor surgery but is better for people who want less frequent treatments.
- Low Testosterone. Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM. http://www.medicinenet.com/low_testosterone/page3.htm [↩]
- Is Testosterone a Fat Burner or Fat Promoter? http://www.fitflex.com/testosteronefatburner.html [↩]
