[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/09\/low-testosterone\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/09\/low-testosterone\/","headline":"How to Treat Low Testosterone","name":"How to Treat Low Testosterone","description":"Learn about the symptoms and causes of low testosterone in men. Plus, discover your treatment options.","datePublished":"2019-09-17","dateModified":"2022-02-03","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/urology\/services\/mens-health-center","name":"Men’s Health Center","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/urology\/services\/mens-health-center","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/mens-health-center\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/mens1_blg.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/mens1_blg.jpg","height":1333,"width":2000},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/09\/low-testosterone\/","about":["Family Health","Living and Wellness","Men's Health","Urology"],"wordCount":341,"keywords":["hypogonadism","Infertility","testosterone replacement therapy","UPMC Men's Health Center"],"articleBody":"As men get older, their levels of testosterone, the male hormone, tend to decline. Low testosterone, also called hypogonadism, can cause you to feel tired and weak and can also lower your sex drive. Thankfully, it’s often treatable.The Importance of TestosteroneMedlinePlus explains that testosterone is essential to:Regulate hair growth and fat location on the bodyStrengthen bones and musclesProduce spermMaintain sex drive and erectionsBoost energy and moodDevelop male physical traitsCauses of Low TestosteroneIt’s normal for your testosterone levels to decrease as you age, but the following are also risk factors for low testosterone:Injury to the testiclesSurgery or radiation treatment in the groin areaProblems with thyroid functionCertain medicinesChronic health conditions, such as kidney or liver diseaseObesityIssues with the pituitary gland or the hypothalamusHow to Treat Low TestosteroneIf you have low testosterone, you may experience a lower sex drive, problems with erections, loss of strength, insomnia, sleep apnea, and\/or depression. It’s also possible to have no symptoms.Your doctor can conduct tests to confirm whether you have low testosterone and to determine the cause. The most common treatment is testosterone replacement therapy, a medicine that contains artificial testosterone and is delivered through a patch, injection, gel, or implant. Depending on the cause, however, in very specific conditions your doctor may instead prescribe medicine in pill form that promotes testosterone production.Side effects of testosterone replacement may include trouble urinating, acne, infertility, increasing the numbers of red blood cells, enlarging your prostate, and sore or enlarged breasts. Experts aren’t sure whether testosterone replacement lowers or increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots.To learn more about how to treat low testosterone, visit the UPMC Men’s Health Center or call 1-877-641-4636(4MEN) to make an appointment with an expert.SourcesMedlinePlus, Could you have low testosterone? https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/patientinstructions\/000722.htmUPMC, Low Testosterone, https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/health-library\/article?hwid=abo6506&locale=en-us"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2019","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"09","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/\/09\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to Treat Low Testosterone","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/09\/low-testosterone\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]