Low Testosterone in Men

Could It Be Low Testosterone?

Robbie Williams has told the press about being on testosterone replacement to correct the hormonal imbalance of low male testosterone.

A few years ago, Williams was diagnosed with this condition, which affects the development and health of the male reproductive organs. He has since proclaimed to the world that he was ill for many years and didn’t know it, until he sought treatment for weight loss. “I went to get some HGH. It’s what all the old fellas are on out there in LA,” Robbie reveals. “Went to see a doctor and he said: ‘You don’t need HGH. You’ve got the testosterone of a 100-year-old man.’” After taking the male hormone he is now a happily married man and father of a beautiful daughter, Theodora.

The singer has said his testosterone levels were not just depleted – they were absent altogether.

Low testosterone is checked by a simple blood test taken before 9.30 am in the morning.

Despite what has been reported, low testosterone levels are not that rare.

Up to 1 in 200 men are diagnosed with low testosterone with common causes being genetic defects, lack of hormones from the brain that simulate the testicles, and damage to the testicles. Many more men suffer in silence and remain undiagnosed and untreated.

Common symptoms of low testosterone include:
• Mood changes – low mood and irritability
• Poor concentration
• Low energy
• Reduced muscle strength
• Longer time to recover from exercise
• Low interest in sex -decreased libido
• Difficulty getting and keeping erections
• Hot flushes, sweats
• Breast development
• Osteoporosis -thinning of bones
• Low semen volume
• Reduced beard or body hair growth, sometimes first noticed by hair loss on the lower legs.

There are many diseases that can lead to low testosterone levels, and low testosterone can mimic many diseases. For this reason it’s important to have a careful screening with a doctor who deals with low testosterone and can properly investigate potential causes.

You don’t need to be fasting for this test. If the first test comes back low, you could arrange for a second test to confirm this reading and to start exploring potential causes. If your results show a medical cause for the low testosterone the key to treatment is to firstly address the medical cause. If appropriate or needed the next step is to replace testosterone.

Good news is that testosterone replacement is straight forward, easy, and if done properly, is safe. Of course the key to treatment of low testosterone is to first have your levels checked.