Understanding and Addressing Low Testosterone

Leveraging his MD in a medical practice in Corpus Christi, Texas, Dr. Rafael Fermin Garcia focuses on preventative approaches to health and wellness. Among those Dr. Rafael Fermin Garcia treats as a physician at Future Focus Family Medicine are patients with low testosterone.

As reported by the American Urological Association conference, 40 percent of US adult men over age 45 are diagnosed with testosterone deficiency. Produced primarily in the testes, the hormone is vital for both male reproductive and fertility functions, and is also related to a balanced mood, sufficient sleep, bone health, and proper cardiovascular function.

After age 30, testosterone production decreases an average of 1 percent each year, with steroid and opioid use potentially accelerating that. Obesity and diabetes can also reduce testosterone levels, as can injury to or loss of a testicle.

In cases where blood tests indicate low testosterone levels, it is important to ascertain whether the issue is related to one of the testes or something in the brain. When it comes to issues in the brain, low testosterone may reflect insufficient levels of luteinizing hormone, which is produced by the pituitary gland.

Treating testosterone deficiency starts with lifestyle goals such as maintaining a healthy weight, lifting weights, minimizing alcohol intake, and stress management. Supplementation is not generally recommended, and even testosterone therapy through gel or medication should be approached cautiously, as it may decrease sperm count.