Are you tired and exhausted?
Have you lost your motivation?
Are you suffering from low libido?
Are you having difficulty with erections?
At the Endocrine & Diabetes Center we are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of low testosterone with over three decades of experience. Our goal is to help men achieve optimal health through proactive evaluation and treatment. Through our comprehensive evaluation and management, we emphasize optimizing your health with medical treatment and lifestyle guidance. We will monitor your health and wellbeing with a highly individualized approach to achieve clear objectives by physical exam, comprehensive laboratory tests, changes in your body composition and physical fitness. Our goal is to develop strong relationship with our patients to better understand and serve their unique health needs and challenges.
Low Testosterone (also known as male hypogonadism) is a clinical condition in which low levels of testosterone are found in association with specific signs and symptoms. This can result from a variety of different causes, including inadequate production of testosterone by the testes, disorders of pituitary, chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and obesity, certain medications (such as opioids) or aging. Long-term low testosterone levels can result in sexual dysfunction, slower metabolism, and weight gain.
BENEFITS OF TESTOSTERONE THERAPY WHEN MEDICALLY INDICATED IS IMPROVEMENT IN THE FOLLOWING:
Physical strength and stamina- Sex drive
- Strength of erection
- Mental clarity
- Overall energy
- Motivation and productivity
- Mood
- Quality and depth of sleep
- Body composition, muscle mass, and strength
- Metabolism (increased insulin sensitivity)
- Improvement in bone density
IMPORTANT POINTS REGARDING TESTOSTERONE THERAPY:
- We will discuss the risks and benefits of testosterone therapy and safety of treatment.
- We emphasize the importance of an appropriate diagnostic work up and monitoring plan.
- We use an accurate assay for the measurement of total and free testosterone by a reputable national laboratory.
- We advise against starting Testosterone therapy in patients interested in future fertility or have any of a number of specified conditions.
- Serum total testosterone level below 300 ng/dl is generally a reasonable cut-off in support of the diagnosis of low testosterone. This level can be used in conjunction with the free testosterone level to assure appropriate diagnosis.
- The diagnosis of low testosterone should be made only after two testosterone measurements taken on separate days both in an early morning (8-9 a.m.) before breakfast.
- In patients with low testosterone, we measure pituitary hormones LH, FSH and prolactin to assist in diagnosis of primary vs secondary hypogonadism, (i.e. of pituitary- hypothalamic origin).
- We measure estradiol (estrogen)) level in testosterone deficient patients who have gynecomastia (breast enlargement) prior to initiation of testosterone therapy.
- We consider measuring testosterone in patients with unexplained anemia, bone loss, diabetes, exposure to chemotherapy, exposure to testicular radiation, HIV/AIDS, chronic narcotic use, male infertility, pituitary dysfunction, osteoporosis and bone loss in men and chronic corticosteroid therapy.
- We recommend general medical evaluation and blood tests including comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid profile, blood count and other appropriate metabolic tests prior to initiation of testosterone therapy.
- We recommend measuring the PSA level in men over 40 years of age prior to commencement of testosterone therapy to exclude prostate cancer.
- We recommend measurement of the bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine and, hip and femoral neck after 1-2 years of T therapy in hypogonadal men with osteoporosis.
- Patients should be aware of the long-term impact of exogenous testosterone on lowering sperm production in those individuals who are interested in future fertility.
- Other modalities of treatment (other than testosterone therapy) are available for men with low testosterone who are interested in fertility, such as treatment with Clomid and HCG.
- Patients with testosterone deficiency and a history of prostate cancer should coordinate additional care with their urologist.
- We advise all men with testosterone deficiency regarding lifestyle modifications as needed.
- We prescribe commercially manufactured FDA approved testosterone products for treatment of low testosterone. We do not prescribe compounded products.
- We evaluate patients at 2-3 months Interval after initiation of treatment to determine the optimal dose of testosterone needed and then every 6 months to assess the adequacy of therapy and potential adverse effects. We aim to raise serum T into the mid-normal range.
We will be happy to prescribe medication to those individuals complaining of erectile dysfunction to improve their sexual performance. Book your appointment TODAY!