Testosterone is important for a multitude of functions. It is critical to bone health, aids in production of red blood cells (our oxygen carrying cells), impacts our mood and energy level, and protects against mental fogginess. Around the age of 40, our testosterone levels will decrease by approximately 1-2% per year.

As mentioned previously, Testosterone levels peak during early adulthood and begin to decline starting around the age of 40. Low testosterone can be secondary to age related changes, decreased production of the hormone by the testicles, or due to problems with the pituitary gland (small gland in the brain that controls the production of testosterone). It will be important for your APRN to determine the cause of your low testosterone so that your treatment can be optimized.

Your APRN will perform a physical exam, review your symptoms, and obtain a blood test to check your hormone levels. If your testosterone levels are below a certain threshold, a subsequent additional and/or confirmatory blood test may be done prior to any recommendation for treatment. It is important to note that, because of the cyclic nature in which our bodies produce testosterone, all of your labs should be drawn prior to 10 o’clock in the morning for maximum accuracy.

In most cases, men need to have low levels of testosterone in their blood, in addition to several symptoms of low Testosterone, in order to qualify for testosterone therapy. Testosterone therapy is not right for every patient and you should have a discussion with your APRN prior to initiating treatment. Sometimes your APRN can identify the source of low testosterone such as weight gain or certain medications which might be addressed prior to resorting to testosterone therapy