Why Your Low T Shouldn’t Be Managed By The Guy In The Bathroom At The Gym

There Are Three Categories Of Men With Low T

Most men probably know that testosterone is important for muscular

growth, and has a role in sexual health. They may not know that low T can

be secondary to dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, which is

responsible for the production of gonadotropins. When LHRH is released from

the hypothalamus, the pituitary releases LH, and this signals the testicles to

produce testosterone. Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis is known

as secondary hypogonadism. Men with completely normal testicles may

have inadequate production of testosterone because of diseases of either the

hypothalamus or pituitary (brain structures.) In fact, low T can be the first

sign of such a condition.

Hypothalamic-pituitary disease is relatively rare, but it would be a terrible

mistake to blindly give a patient testosterone if his underlying condition was

a pituitary tumor.

When men have low T because of testicular dysfunction, the body tries to

compensate by increasing LH, and FSH. That is a normal response that is expected

In patients with testicular failure and is known as primary hypogonadism.

Frequently, as men age, their testicles produce a smaller volume of T, and the

hypothalamic-pituitary axis fails to respond as expected. This is termed

adult onset hypogonadism.

Symptoms Of Low T: Yikes!

Correcting Low T: Proceed With Caution!

While low T can be problematic, there are also dangers associated

with testosterone replacement therapy. That’s why you don’t

want to be getting your testosterone managed by the guy in the

locker room at the gym. Specific patients who should not receive

testosterone replacement include:

1) Patients with elevated hematocrit.

2) Patients with untreated prostate cancer.

3) Men with sleep apnea.

4) Men with cardiac failure.