About two out of every 100 men are affected by low testosterone. Also known as male hypogonadism, having low testosterone is caused by the inability to produce enough testosterone to achieve a hormonal balance in the body.
When this hormonal balance is off, your overall health and well-being will be affected. Low testosterone can have an impact on physicality, energy levels, and even mental well-being. Luckily, Dr. Philip Rabito is able to offer effective treatments for patients in the New York Area who are struggling with low testosterone symptoms.
As a Mount Sinai-trained endocrinologist with over 25 years of clinical practice experience, Dr. Rabito is an expert in testosterone replacement therapy and is dedicated to improving the lives of patients who have low testosterone. To learn more about male hypogonadism, how low testosterone symptoms may be affecting you, and which treatments can help improve these symptoms, read our FAQ below:
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Low Testosterone?
Testosterone is the primary male hormone produced by the testes that impart typical male characteristics, including muscle mass, facial hair, sex drive, and energy levels. However, hormone level regulation is a complex system within the body.
Aging is associated with lower levels. In fact, levels decrease by approximately 1 percent every year after the age of 30.
Testosterone production can be adversely affected by several factors, including conditions affecting the brain (pituitary and/or hypothalamus glands) or testicles. It is imperative to understand the cause in order to rule out significant underlying pathology instead of simply replacing testosterone without knowing such vital information.
Your testosterone levels vary according to the time of day. Testosterone levels typically peak in the early morning and nadir at the hour of sleep.
A normal testosterone level ranges from 300–1,000 ng/dl. However, these levels are age-dependent, and if they change or become off balance, low testosterone levels will manifest into symptoms that can affect your daily life.
What Are the Symptoms of Low Testosterone?
If you experience more than one low testosterone system at the same time for a prolonged period of time, you may have low testosterone. Common symptoms of low testosterone include:
- Enlarged and/ or tender breasts (gynecomastia)
- Decreased testicle size
- Decreased muscle/ lean body mass
- Increased abdominal fat
- Reduced facial and/or body hair
- Diminished muscular strength
- Mood changes, including anxiety and/or depression
- Sleep disturbance
- Diminished mental focus and memory
- Increased insulin resistance and risk of Type 2 diabetes (due to reduction in lean body mass and increase in fat mass )
- Low libido
- Erectile Dysfunction
Why Is It Important to Balance Testosterone Levels?
Maintaining a normal testosterone level is important for many reasons beyond optimizing sexual health. Testosterone supports optimal bone density, reduces fracture risk, optimizes reproductive health (male fertility), and maintains muscle mass and red blood cell production.
Balancing testosterone levels is also essential for improving energy levels and mental health and optimizing an overall sense of well-being.
How Is Low Testosterone Diagnosed?
Low testosterone will be diagnosed through a series of tests. Endocrinologists like Dr. Rabito are experts at diagnosing and treating hormone disorders. As part of his esteemed wellness, anti-aging, and preventative medicine practice, Dr. Rabito will assess your medical history, lab work, and symptoms to determine if you have low testosterone. To accurately assess testosterone levels, it is necessary to test more than once and to test in the morning after fasting for at least eight hours. These tests will then reveal your hormone levels and can also indicate what may be the cause of them.
How Is Low Testosterone Treated?
As an experienced endocrinologist and expert in hormone replacement therapy, Dr. Rabito will manage your testosterone replacement in a safe and effective manner. Testosterone replacement therapy is a treatment that can distribute consistent doses of testosterone to the body until a hormonal balance is achieved and low testosterone symptoms are improved. This treatment can be given in different forms. Dr. Rabito can help you determine which form is the most beneficial for your body and symptoms.
Testosterone replacement therapy can include
- Testosterone skin gels.
- Testosterone injections.
- Testosterone patches.
- HRT pellets which are implanted under the skin.
- Testosterone nasal gel
- Oral testosterone
Schedule Your Consultation for Low Testosterone Today
Low testosterone is a common problem that is not diagnosed often enough. Seeking a professional opinion about your low testosterone symptoms can lead to life-changing treatment. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Rabito for lost testosterone treatment or to learn more, click here or call our office in New York, NY, at 877.703.3775.
