Testosterone deficiency

It is generally known that testosterone, as the "male hormone", is responsible for the development into a man during puberty. It ensures fertility and later the maintenance of male characteristics. In addition, however, it also performs many other tasks in the body. For example, it is involved in muscle and bone formation, blood formation and the psyche.

Reduced libido and lack of drive are often early signs of testosterone deficiency; later, erectile dysfunction, depression, anaemia and bone weakness, among other things, can follow.

If the testosterone level in the blood is low, this does not necessarily mean that treatment must also be given. For therapy, it is always important whether typical symptoms of testosterone deficiency are also present. Contrary to popular belief, a high testosterone level has little to do with particularly pronounced masculinity, sexuality and libido. Therefore, the goal should not be to raise the testosterone level without reason.

Age-related testosterone deficiency (late-onset hypogonadism) in particular is often associated with an unhealthy lifestyle (metabolic syndrome). It has been shown here that a healthy lifestyle is at least as important as drug therapy. In addition to regular exercise, a healthy diet with the aim of weight reduction plays the most important role. This can often normalise testosterone levels and symptoms. Incidentally, this also lowers the cardiovascular risk and can prevent diseases such as diabetes.
For other causes of testosterone deficiency, diet plays a rather minor role.

First of all, comprehensive diagnostics are important. Testosterone is subject to a complex regulatory mechanism between the hypothalamus in the diencephalon, the pituitary gland and the testicles. A disorder at any of these stations can cause testosterone deficiency. In addition, genetic causes or disorders of other hormones, for example, can also be considered. Treatment is usually with medication.

If it has been established that there is no other disease requiring treatment as the cause of the testosterone deficiency, drug therapy can usually be given. The therapy is precisely tailored to the patient. Testosterone can be injected into the muscle, applied to the skin as a gel or taken orally as a capsule. If there is a wish to have children, other medications are necessary.