Testosterone is the key male sex hormone that regulates fertility, muscle mass, fat distribution, and red blood cell production. Testosterone is an essential hormone in males and females but is the main sex hormone in males. It helps with muscle development, voice deepening, and sperm production.
Why Test For Testosterone?
Doctors may order the test to help diagnose a number of conditions such as:
• erectile dysfunction (ED)
• infertility
• decreased sex drive
• delayed puberty
• early puberty
• irregular menstrual periods
• excess body hair growth
• tumors in the testicles
• issues in the hypothalamus
• conditions of the pituitary gland
• abnormal weight gain
• low energy levels
• loss of muscle mass
• erectile dysfunction (ED)
• infertility
• decreased sex drive
• delayed puberty
• early puberty
• irregular menstrual periods
• excess body hair growth
• tumors in the testicles
• issues in the hypothalamus
• conditions of the pituitary gland
• abnormal weight gain
• low energy levels
• loss of muscle mass
Symptoms Of Low Testosterone
overall fatigue
low sex drive
difficulty getting or maintaining an erection
early hair loss
loss of muscle mass
weak bones
fertility issues
development of breast tissue
low sex drive
difficulty getting or maintaining an erection
early hair loss
loss of muscle mass
weak bones
fertility issues
development of breast tissue
Symptoms Of High Testosterone
People with high testosterone (high T) levels may experience the following symptoms:
• growing facial hair
• growing more or thicker body hair
• deepening of the voice
• loss of breast tissue
• acne and oily skin
• baldness
• skipped periods or no periods
High testosterone in females may indicate conditions in the ovaries, such as ovarian cancer or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
• growing facial hair
• growing more or thicker body hair
• deepening of the voice
• loss of breast tissue
• acne and oily skin
• baldness
• skipped periods or no periods
High testosterone in females may indicate conditions in the ovaries, such as ovarian cancer or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Summary
For men, testosterone levels are important to maintain, but they naturally decrease over time. If symptoms of severe or chronic low testosterone are showing, the hormone deficiency may be caused by an active disease or condition.
Treatment can lead to unwanted side effects, so it can be crucial to balance the expected benefits of testosterone supplementation with the risks of the treatment. Often, low testosterone levels come without harmful physical effects and do not require treatment.
Treatment can lead to unwanted side effects, so it can be crucial to balance the expected benefits of testosterone supplementation with the risks of the treatment. Often, low testosterone levels come without harmful physical effects and do not require treatment.
