Diagnosing Low-T
Low Testosterone is a major problem that can affect men at
any point in their lives. Although the symptoms of Low Testosterone generally
manifest themselves in the forties or fifties, many patients, especially those
with medical problems which increase the likelihood of Low-T, such as insomnia
or obesity, may begin experiencing symptoms much earlier.
The good thing, however, is that there are some relatively
clean cut symptoms that you can look for which can help you discern whether you
need to talk to a doctor. Two of the most obvious examples are sexual:
Sexual Symptoms of
Testosterone Deficiency
Do you feel that your libido has dropped significantly in
recent years?
Testosterone is the hormone that kick-starts the sex drive
in both men and women. Without sufficient Levels of Testosterone, your interest
in sex can dwindle to nothing.
Are erections becoming more difficult to produce and
maintain?
Testosterone also regulates the physical processes which
lead to the development of the male erection. Although Nitric Oxide is
responsible for the physical manifestation of the erection, the chain of events
that eventually lead to erection cannot take place without Testosterone.
These are the two primary sexual symptoms of Low
Testosterone, and are the two symptoms most universally experienced among men
that suffer from Testosterone Deficiency.
Physiological and
Psychological Symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency
Although these are the two symptoms most people associate
with Testosterone Deficiency, there are many other symptoms related to Low-T
which have nothing to do with sex and sexuality.
Do you regularly experience bouts of fatigue?
Testosterone plays an important role in general metabolism,
along with hormones like Human Growth Hormone. If you are not producing the
Testosterone that your body needs, this increases the likelihood that you will
feel drained and exhausted.
Is it harder to find the willpower to complete tasks with
efficiency?
Low-T also has effects upon the male psychology.
Testosterone is the primary hormone which fosters male assertiveness, and if
your body is lacking in Testosterone, then you may lose that desire to get up
and go and do what needs to be done.
Do you become angry or agitated easier than you did when
you were younger?
Although Testosterone fosters a particular sense of
assertiveness, it also encourages a sense of self-control. As Testosterone
Production in the male body starts to decline, many men start to experience
issues with short tempers, or they find themselves less resilient to stress.
Are you finding it hard to concentrate?
Through a number of different processes, Testosterone
encourages your mind to stay sharp. Many men find that their Testosterone
Deficiency is associated with a reduced ability to concentrate. This, combined
with the lack of general focus caused by Low-T, can result in significant
changes in your work capacity.
Do you experience bouts of depression that you did not
experience earlier in life?
Testosterone Deficiency can lead to feelings of depression
and changes in self-worth. The decline in assertiveness and focus, in combination
with the increase in anxiety and irritability, is a recipe for depressive
symptoms. Low-T causes depression through a combination of psychological and
physiological processes.
Physical Symptoms of
Testosterone Deficiency
In addition to sexual and psychological symptoms, Low-T can
also cause physical changes to your body:
Does your body produce less hair than it once did?
Testosterone Stimulates hair growth. In individuals that
choose to abuse Testosterone, hair growth can get a little out of control, even
in women. On the other hand, men that experience Low-T start to lose body hair,
and existing body hair becomes thinner and more brittle.
Is it more difficult to build and sustain muscle mass?
Testosterone promotes muscle development like no other
hormone produced by the human body. Testosterone is what allows men to have
larger muscles than women. As Testosterone Levels start to decline, this
prevents the body from effectively developing and sustaining muscle mass.
Are your breasts growing in size or becoming more tender?
When men have abnormally low levels of Testosterone, this
can allow Estrogen Levels to increase unchecked. Men that are overweight or
obese are at an even greater risk. Increased Estrogen Production leads directly
to gynecomastia, or the growth of breast tissue.
Osteoporosis and Testosterone Deficiency
In addition to these noticeable symptoms of Low-T, you may
also experience Osteoporosis as a result of Testosterone Deficiency, which you
may not realize until it's too late.
Osteoporosis is a slow and insidious process of bone
breakdown caused by the breakdown of minerals within bone tissue, leading the
bones to eventually become very brittle and exceptionally prone to fractures
and breaks.
The Importance of
Recognizing Low-T Early
Urologists and endocrinologists explain that it is acutely
important that males understand the symptoms and risks associated with
Testosterone Deficiency, so that men can take steps to reverse Low-T and live a
happier and more normal life. It's also important for doctors to realize the
importance of Testosterone and the implications of Testosterone Deficiency.
Even today, after decades of research, Testosterone
Deficiency is often not at the forefront of many doctors' minds. Clinical
research shows that Low-T is under-diagnosed in the United States, and there is
growing evidence that, upon a certain age, Testosterone Levels should be
checked as a part of a routine physical.
It is important that you don't try to self-diagnose.
Testosterone Deficiency is a very complicated disease, which shares some
distinct characteristics with a number of other health conditions as well. If
you think you may benefit from Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy, make
an appointment with a qualified physician, like those at the Conscious
Evolution Institute. All of this can be achieved with just a few simple tests,
all performed using a single blood sample.
What to Expect when You
Visit Your Doctor about Low Testosterone
Generally, when you visit a doctor regarding Testosterone
Deficiency, he or she will follow a fairly established protocol in order to
maximize diagnostic effectiveness.
Low-T Diagnosis Step One: Medical History
First, your physician will discuss your medical history with
you in order to get a strong grasp on your general health in the past. Also,
your physician will ask you what medications that you are currently using.
There are certain medications which react poorly with
Testosterone Replacement Therapy, so it is important for your doctor to know if
Testosterone is truly an option for you.
Low-T Diagnosis Step Two: Personal History
In addition to discussing your physical past, it will also
be important to talk about your recent personal history as well. There are a
number of personal circumstances that can cause you to experience psychological
symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency, including anxiety and depression.
These symptoms can also have an effect upon your sexual
health. If you are having romantic troubles, this can prevent you from becoming
aroused sufficiently. Stress and other factors can also make it hard to get
your mind ready for sex and sexuality.
The Importance of Preliminary Examination
The reason that these first steps are very important is that
these are completely non-invasive ways that your doctor can make a preliminary
decision regarding if Testosterone can help you. Discussing your recent
emotional past is vital, because many of the symptoms of Testosterone
Deficiency can also be caused by stress, environment, and domestic issues.
Before turning to Testosterone Replacement, physicians must
rule out other potential personal issues and medical circumstances which can
mirror the symptoms.
Low-T Diagnosis Step Three: Physical Examination
After this initial chat with your doctor, you will then
undergo a fairly routine physical. Your physician will examine you for physical
signs of Testosterone Deficiency. He or she will examine your breasts,
testicles, scrotum, and penis for changes in size characteristic of Low-T.
Also, he or she will look for signs that your hair is growing thinner.
Low-T Diagnosis Step Four: Blood Testing
At this point, after your verbal and physical examination,
your physician will then draw a blood sample. Generally, the best time to meet
your doctor is early, generally before Eight A.M. This is because Serum and
Free Testosterone Levels peak in the morning hours. By drawing your blood
sample in the morning, diagnostic testing will reveal your maximum Testosterone
concentration.
How Low is Low-T?
There is a reasonably well-established threshold for
Testosterone Deficiency. The range varies somewhat from clinic to clinic, but
normal T-Levels are considered somewhere between three hundred to one thousand
ng/dl. The exact threshold varies depending upon age, health, time of day, and
other factors.
If your Testosterone concentration drops below three
hundred, and you manifest traits of Testosterone Deficiency, then you will
almost certainly be approved for Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy,
barring any factors which prevent you from qualifying for therapy.
Low-T Threshold Varies from Person to Person
Every man has a unique needs when it comes to Testosterone.
Some men are functional even with Testosterone levels that are relatively low.
Others will experience symptoms even if they have clinically Normal
Testosterone Levels. If you are experiencing symptoms of Testosterone
Deficiency, but initial testing shows that you have relatively normal T-Levels,
then further testing can be done.
Free Testosterone and Bio-Available Testosterone Analysis
If total Testosterone Levels do not designate that you are
experiencing Deficiency, your blood will also be analyzed for Bio-Available
Testosterone as well as Free Testosterone. Although Free Testosterone is available
to the body in much lower concentrations than Total Testosterone, it can be an
effective way to monitor how effective your body is at producing and
distributing Testosterone to meet the needs of the body.
Although some doctors may do this over the course of
multiple sessions, many doctors choose to perform all three of these tests
immediately upon a single sample in order to save time and provide you the
clearest picture of your Hormone Profile.
Of course, a person is more than simply a set of numbers, so
there is some variability dependent upon the physician that you choose. If you
are in the low/normal range, but you are still experiencing symptoms of
Testosterone Deficiency that have no other discernible cause, then many doctors
would choose to initiate therapy in order to test for effectiveness over a
relatively brief period of time.
Rooting Out the Cause of
Testosterone Deficiency
Although these initial blood tests can diagnose Low-T, there
are other tests that your doctor can use in order to discover the exact cause
of your deficiency. For example, there are two main forms of Low-T caused by
Primary and Secondary Hypogonadism.
Primary Hypogonadism is the result of malfunctions within
the Testes that limit production of Testosterone. Secondary Hypogonadism is the
result of issues with the Pituitary or Hypothalamus that lead to Deficiency.
Most men that experience Testosterone Deficiency as a factor of age experience
Secondary Hypogonadism.
Why Choose the Conscious
Evolution Institute?
The Conscious Evolution Institute has a unique and effective
way to diagnose and treat patients that feel that they may be suffering from
issues relating to Hormone Deficiency. The Conscious Evolution Institute has
the resources and expertise to perform remote diagnostic services which meet or
exceed that of other clinics.
No Nonsense Testosterone Appraisal
CEI has affiliates across the United States that make the
initial phase of diagnosis easy and simple. You can arrange for an appointment
that fits your busy schedule, and if you prefer, the doctor can even visit you
at your home or office! Because the most invasive part of diagnosing
Testosterone Deficiency is a simple blood sample, it is easy to arrange for
testing any time and any place.
Fast Results from a Respectable Source
Diagnostic Testing is performed remotely by the
well-regarded testing firm, LabCorp, and they will perform all of the important
and relevant tests in order to give our physicians and clinical staff a
complete hormone profile. After the Conscious Evolution Institute receives the
diagnostic data, they can study all of the results and compare it to the data
received from their local affiliate, allowing them to make a complete diagnosis
using all of the data collected.
This entire process takes just 4-5 business days. After
analyzing the data, one of our amazing physicians will call you and discuss the
results, what they mean, and how Hormone Replacement Therapy can impact your
life. After illuminating you in regard to your current health status, our
doctors can arrange for Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy, or any other
hormone treatments that you may need, to be delivered directly to your door.
The Personal Touch
Our care doesn't end when the product hits your doorstep
like so many other providers, however. We also provide complete care. We
provide nutritional advice and help you maximize the effectiveness of your
diet. We also provide personal training guides and have professionals on hand
that can offer guidance in order to help you improve your overall physical
health. By treating the whole person, we provide some of the most effective
treatment available in America.
The Conscious Evolution
Institute for High Quality, Physician Monitored Hormone Replacement Therapy
If you think that Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy
may be right for you, we encourage you to contact us at the Conscious Evolution
Institute today!
We also provide Human Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy,
Sermorelin Acetate Therapy, and a number of other forms of Hormone Treatment.
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