Testosterone Deficiency in Men in Del Mar, CA

Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome (Hypogonadism)

Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome, or Hypogonadism, is a condition in which a man's body does not make enough testosterone, the primary male hormone. This condition usually affects older men, but younger individuals can also be affected for a variety of reasons.

While the term "andropause" is sometimes used for this condition, it is inaccurate. Unlike menopause, testosterone deficiency syndrome is not an inevitable result of aging.

Testosterone plays a key part in a man's sex drive, muscle mass, along with mental and physical energy.

Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms that are associated with a deficiency in testosterone in men:

• Reduced sex drive
• Trouble obtaining or keeping an erection
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Poor results from exercise programs
• Increase in body fat
• Loss of lean body (muscle) mass
• Loss of bone density
• Depression
• Poor job performance
• Negative changes in cholesterol profile

Causes

Sometimes, a specific cause for testosterone deficiency may be identified. An example would be excess secretion of one or more pituitary hormones that then interfere with testosterone production or availability.

In most people, however, no cause for testosterone deficiency can be identified. In these cases, testosterone replacement therapy is generally an effective treatment.

Effects

Beyond the symptoms that many men experience, testosterone deficiency syndrome can also contribute to the beginning or worsening of various diseases:

• Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
• Increased risk of death from a cardiovascular event
• Increased risk of metabolic syndrome: high blood pressure, elevated insulin levels, excess belly fat and unusual cholesterol levels
• Strong association with diabetes
• Strong association with atherosclerotic disease of the aorta
• Higher occurrence of prostate cancer
• Association with more aggressive variations of cancer

Diagnosis

Testosterone deficiency is normally diagnosed with a simple blood test.

Treatment

When a specific cause for testosterone deficiency can be determined, treatment can be focused on that cause. When it comes to the excess pituitary secretion of hormones, for example, medication or surgery might be used to correct the underlying problem.

In cases where no particular cause can be determined, testosterone replacement therapy is the most common treatment option.

Testosterone replacement therapy increases the body's testosterone levels through regular administration of testosterone. This therapy can take several forms:

• Testosterone patches give a defined amount of testosterone daily but must be replaced daily.
• Testosterone gels work in much the same way as testosterone patches, needing a daily application.
• Intramuscular testosterone supplementation is an injection that is given every one to four weeks.
• Testosterone "pellets" are implanted under the skin, providing a steady level of testosterone for 4-6 months.

There are two other types of testosterone therapy that are either not available in the United States or not recommended:

• The testosterone wafer dissolves between the lip and the gum. It is not commonly used because it has to be taken twice each day and causes gum irritation in a lot of patients.
• A long-lasting oral preparation of testosterone is currently available outside the U.S., but it has not yet been approved by the FDA for sale in this country.

Risks

Before beginning testosterone therapy, individuals should recognize that it is a life-long commitment. Testosterone supplementation leads to a drop in the amount of testosterone that is naturally produced by the body.

Testosterone replacement therapy can also increase a patient's red blood cell mass, reflected in a test called the hematocrit. Therefore, careful tracking of hematocrit levels is important.

For further information about Dr. Stengler’s practice and his clinic in Del Mar, California, please visit our website at MarkStengler.com or give us a call at (760) 274-2377