FAQ — Low Testosterone and Sexual health

What does testosterone do? 

Testosterone is the male sex hormone in charge of normal growth and development of male sex organs and for the maintenance of other sexual characteristics, such as: 

• Growth and maturation of prostate and other male sex organs 
• Development of male hair distribution such as facial hair 
• Changes in body muscle mass and strength and fat distribution 
• Sex drive and sexual function 
• Mood and energy level 
• Bone strength 

What is low testosterone?  

Low testosterone or low T is what happens when testosterone levels in your blood fall below 350 ng/dL. Hypogonadism is a medical term you may also hear. It refers to a decrease in either testosterone production, sperm production, or both in a male. At Craft Medical we focus on the testosterone side of the issue to help improve your quality of life. Why? Because the symptoms of low T are often distressing and continue to be more so as time passes.  

What are symptoms of low testosterone in males?  

Signs of low T in a man include could include: 

• Less energy 
• Reduced sex drive 
• Less frequent sexual activities 
• Erectile dysfunction (ED) 
• Depressed mood 
• Less muscle mass 
• More body fat 
• Anemia (low iron) 
• Loss of bone strength 

What causes low testosterone in males? 

As a man ages, the amount of testosterone in his body gradually declines. After age 30, this natural decrease begins and continues (about 1% per year) throughout his life. 

However, there are other risk factors that can cause more severe cases low T apart from the natural drop, including: 

• Injury (trauma, interrupted blood supply to the testes) or infection of the testes (orchitis) 
• Cancer-related chemotherapy 
• Metabolic disorders such as hemochromatosis (excessive iron in the body) 
• Dysfunction or tumors of the pituitary gland 
• Medications, including opioids, hormones used to treat prostate cancer, and steroids (such as prednisone) 
• Short-term or long-term illness 
• Alcohol abuse 
• Cirrhosis of the liver 
• Chronic renal (kidney) failure 
• HIV/AIDS 
• Inflammatory conditions  
• Kallman syndrome (abnormal development of the hypothalamus, a gland in the brain that regulates a lot of your hormones) 
• Klinefelter syndrome (a genetic condition in which a male is born with an extra copy of the X chromosome). Also called XXY syndrome 
• High levels of the milk-producing hormone prolactin 
• Obesity or extreme weight loss 
• Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus 
• Congenital defect (present at birth) 
• Obstructive sleep apnea 
• Aging 
• Estrogen excess (usually from an outside source) 
• Previous anabolic steroid abuse 
• Severe primary hypothyroidism 
• Pubertal delay 
• Head trauma 
• Radiation exposure or prior surgery of the brain

What does low testosterone do? 

Low T can affect men to varying degrees. The symptoms can range from subtle to near debilitating, if depression and lack of desire to work or participate in routine activities occurs. Many men do not understand what is happening to them, which can tailspin into worsening health, both mentally and physically. 

Men who unknowingly suffering from low testosterone often report losing interest in work or hobbies that they were once passionate about or a drastic drop in sexual interest. Some are driven to change these new unwanted symptoms by pushing themselves at the gym, only to ultimately become devastated that all their hard work has only resulted in continued loss of muscle.  

They often do not know that they are not getting the desired results because what is lacking is hormone-related.  

Do I have low testosterone? 

If you’re experiencing any of these signs, you may have low T: 

• Problems with erections 
• Hair loss 
• Reduced bone mass 
• Reduction in testicle size 
• Reduced semen amount 
• Difficulty sleeping 
• Lower sex drive 
• Reduced muscle mass 
• Hot flashes 
• Decrease in energy levels 
• Increase in body fat 
• Mood swings or changes in mood 

The best way to know if you have low testosterone is to have your blood tested.  

How do you test for low testosterone? 

At Craft Medical, we will send you to a lab in your area where professionals will draw blood so that we can be sure to receive reliable test results.  

Can low testosterone cause depression and anxiety? 

Both low T and depression have symptoms in common. However, it is the physical symptoms that manifest with each condition that tend to be different. 

Common symptoms include: 

• Irritability 
• Anxiety 
• Sadness 
• Low sex drive 
• Memory problems 
• Trouble concentrating 
• Sleep problems 

People who experience depression but have normal hormone levels generally do not have breast swelling and decreased muscle mass and strength, which are associated with low T. The physical manifestations of depression are usually centered around headaches and back pain. 

If you’re feeling down, irritable, or not yourself, blood work can help determine if your testosterone levels are normal. 

Does low testosterone mean low sperm count? 

Low T doesn’t necessarily cause infertility. Not directly. Men with low testosterone can still produce healthy sperm because sperm production is mainly stimulated by other hormones. However, low levels of testosterone can affect sperm production, i.e. by reducing it.  

There’s an indirect effect on fertility, however, because of reduced sex drive that can result in a lack of desire to have sex. It can also cause erectile dysfunction, leading to fewer erections or erections that aren’t as strong as they once were. This can make it difficult to reach climax or to have sex often enough to reproduce. 

What is a low testosterone level?  

Testosterone levels between 350 ng/dL and 1000 ng/dL are considered “normal”. In healthy men, the brain and the testes coordinate to keep the hormone levels within this range. So, a blood test showing a circulating testosterone level of under 300 ng/dL is generally considered low.  

Can low testosterone cause weight gain? 

Yes. Low T can cause an increase in body fat, especially around the midsection. This leaves many men to battle a bulge they were not previously used to. Conversely, obesity itself is one of the risk factors for low testosterone. Researchers are still tyring to understand the correlation.  

Is low testosterone genetic? 

Both primary hypogonadism (low testosterone that originates in the testicles) and secondary hypogonadism (low T that originates in glands in the brain that control hormones) can be cause by inherited traits or acquired traits. See the Q&A above on causes of low testosterone.