Androgen Deficiency Treatment

The doctor starts diagnoses with blood test and checking general physical symptoms, plus an Androgen deficiency test. The treatment starts right after that your test results show you have trouble with your testosterone hormones.
In the diagnosis step, the doctor can conclude what has caused such deficiency. Such deficiency is caused by primary or secondary hypogonadism. Therefore, the treatment starts based on the obtained diagnosis information.
In primary hypogonadism diagnosis, the treatment may include using capsules, skin patches, creams or gels or Injections for TRT. For Secondary hypogonadism, the doctor should deal with underlying reasons by providing medical care such as testosterone replacement therapy.

Androgens generally refer to sex hormones. Men normally produce testosterone in their tests, as sex hormones. Testosterone is responsible for the wellbeing of men’s sexual and reproductive function and the development of secondary sexual characteristics. The production of testosterone affects physical masculine development and metabolism.
Androgen deficiency means the body does not make enough testosterone to perform sex-related functions. This can also have a negative effect on men’s reproductive ability, making them infertile if not treated well.

Diagnosis and treatment of androgen deficiency can be very tricky in aging men. Older men are in danger of prostate cancer more than young ones. Therefore, they should be checked for potential prostate cancer before taking any testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Such therapy increases the level of testosterone, which can help unidentified prostate cancer grow.
This is why we advise you to visit a specialist doctor to treat low levels of testosterone and avoid taking self-prescription ways. The internet websites are full of commercial testosterone products or herbal prescriptions. Taking medications without consulting with an experienced urologist can have serious unpleasant outcomes for your health and fertility condition.

The urologists diagnose this by taking several assessments. This can include physical examinations and other comprehensive tests. You should expect to:

Provide a full medical history

The doctor has to check details of your medical history, such as your drug use, special considerations in your occupation, symptoms of androgen deficiency, ability in sexual functioning, fertility issues, and other underlying diseases

Be physically examined

The doctor needs to examine and measure testicles and breast development for a better understanding of your problem. 

Take a blood test

The doctor may ask you to take a morning blood test, to determine the maximum level of testosterone in your blood. This test may be repeated two times for more reliable data. The doctor may request a pituitary hormone test, as well. 

Testing for other underlying diseases

The doctor may prescribe a blood test to determine your iron level, an MRI scan of your brain to examine any problems with the pituitary gland, or genetic tests to identify genetic conditions such as Klinefelter’s syndrome. Plus, a semen analysis can check the potential fertility of men. 

Three conditions are known as the main causes of androgen deficiency in men: 

Medical problems in the testes

It can result in producing less-than- than enough testosterone in men. For example, Klinefelter’s syndrome can stop the body from making enough sex hormones. In this case, the body’s cells have an extra sex chromosome. In addition to that, undescended testes, loss of testes due to trauma, mumps complications, or chemotherapy or radiotherapy side effects are other conditions that can cause the body to produce less testosterone. 

Pituitary gland

The presence of a benign tumor(adenoma) can interfere with the good function of the pituitary gland. This can produce prolactin hormone, which is responsible for the production of gonadotropins. The latter hormone signals the testes to produce testosterone. 

Hypothalamus

It prompts the pituitary gland to release hormones. Therefore, malfunctioning of the Hypothalamus, such as tumors or genetic disorders, can lead to androgen troubles. However, this is known as the rarest cause of androgen deficiency in males. 

Free androgen index, FAI, is a test to measure androgen levels in men. This test usually starts with a blood test to check total and free testosterone, and sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) as the protein which carries androgens. The total testosterone amount is compared to SHBG to determine FAI in blood. It is advised to take the blood test in the morning to check the highest level of androgens, as this amount can change throughout the day.

The treatment can lead to potential side effects such as:

• Putting on more weight
• Mild acne
• Troubles with urine flow
• Breast development
• Baldness 
• Mood changes

But with being under supervision of a doctor, you can protect yourself any possible serious problems.

It is recommended to not take testosterone treatment if you are trying to have a child. Such treatment can suppress the pituitary hormones which are responsible for sperm production. In this case, you are directed to a fertility specialist.

To treat androgen deficiency in boys, it is best to get advice from a children’s endocrinologist.
First of all, we encourage you to find a good sexual-health clinics near you to get examined by an expert urologist. You cannot use unprescribed medications for temporary treatment. The doctor suggests a treatment strategy based on the type of diagnosis and your intentions of having a baby or not.
For example, if the pituitary gland is causing testosterone deficiency and you still want to have a child in the future, you are recommended to have a gonadotrophin injection to stimulate both testosterone and sperm production in your body.
Mostly, this deficiency is treated based on testosterone replacement therapy by skin gel creams or injections. If you are under such therapy, it is advised to have regular visits with your doctor to review the result. Your age and potential risk factors such as prostate cancer are the main factors that determine the frequency of your visits with your specialists.