Screening for Low T in Men
11 / 19 / 12

Screening for Low T in Men

Getting treated for low testosterone can be the next best thing to the Fountain of Youth. As Dr. Stocks states, “When you take T therapy your energy will improve, your lean body mass will improve, and erectile dysfunction will also improve if that’s a problem for you. ”

Testosterone is a hormone that has more benefits and uses than a person can imagine. It takes precedence in a male’s life when production peaks in his teens and early 20′s, then starts to slowly taper off. “Since that decrease is very slow, you don’t notice a big decline until you start to reach your 40′s or early 50′s”, Dr. Stocks stated. “It’s not something a person actually feels so much as it creeps up on you. That makes it difficult for many doctors to diagnose in a normal individual. Those doctors also aren’t used to treating men with low testosterone levels.”

There are a number of symptoms that can be an indicator of Low T. Dr. Stocks stated, “Fatigue, lethargy, loss of motivation and drive, loss of muscle strength and increased weakness, and an increase of body fat are the main signs of testosterone deficiency. You can also see a decrease in sex drive and erectile dysfunction.” A normal healthy male will have a testosterone level as high as 1,500 ng/dl (nanograms per deciliter) at its peak level of production. When levels drop down to 300 ng/dl, that’s the time to get treatment, though not everyone is exactly the same.

“It isn’t always about your age,” stated Dr. Stocks. “If a man comes in with low T showing on his lab work we will treat it. Sometimes men come in and they will be borderline and feel fine. Then someone older may come in with a normal or low normal T level and they feel awful, and their body is functioning poorly. Even though testosterone levels decline with age, there can be other factors that can make your numbers drop. Acute illness, chronic diseases, pituitary problems, stress, depression, and even medications can lower testosterone levels.”

The screening process is very simple. It starts with a blood test. Then taking a quick history and list of symptoms can help determine problems that can be corrected.  Schedule your consultation today at LongevityMed.