Low Testosterone Low T: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment How Aging Affects Testosterone and Muscle Mass in Men Some medications and certain genetic conditions can also lower a man’s testosterone reading. Men who are hypertensive, obese, or who have elevated cholesterol levels may also suffer from low testosterone levels. Low testosterone, a form of hypogonadism, occurs when the body fails to produce an adequate supply of this hormone. This condition is more prevalent as men age, occurring in about 20 percent of men age 60 and older and increasing to as much as 50 percent in men age 80 and older. While testosterone is thought of as the male hormone, it is necessary for female functioning as well, and women may also suffer from low testosterone. The right levels of testosterone play an important role in your health, no matter your gender. Checking your testosterone level is as simple as having a blood test from your doctor. Having male hypogonadism can affect your self-image and, possibly, your relationships. Talk with your health care provider about how you can reduce the anxiety and stress that often accompany these conditions. When a couple is 100 percent sure that they are done with their fertility efforts, men with a history of low testosterone should be assessed for the need for ongoing TRT. Some men would prefer to stay on their oral SERMs or anastrazole rather than switch over to a gel, patch, pellet, or injections usually used for TRT. As discussed above, the potential problem with this approach is that the impact of taking SERMs and/or anastrazole on a man’s general health over the course of decades is not known. Some men who are done having children are now taking clomiphene long term, but they should be counseled that the long term safety data is not robust and only extends out to 7 years at this time. SERMs impact estrogen receptors throughout the body and this can have unknown health consequences when used for decades. During title first pass review, 11,060 citations were excluded. A systematic review utilized research from the Mayo Clinic Evidence Based Practice Center and additional supplementation by the authors. Literature searches included Ovid Medline In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus. Men between the ages of forty and fifty should be screened only if they have certain risk factors, such as a family history of prostate cancer or are of African American descent. Testosterone plays a crucial role in helping to develop bone and muscle mass for prepubescent males, so it’s not surprising that men with low testosterone levels experience a decrease in bone mass. Low testosterone can contribute to a higher risk of bone fractures, especially in aging men. Not only is testosterone a key building block for muscles, it also plays a role in regulating body fat distribution. Men with low testosterone levels may experience increased body fat, particularly in the