1. Low Testosterone Pictures Slideshow
2. Take the Low Testosterone (Low T) Quiz
3. Impotence Pictures Slideshow

Medical Author:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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In males, the treatment for low-T is based on two approaches.

1. If there are underlying causes for low-T (for example, HIV, tumors, chemotherapy, diabetes, obesity), the doctor should begin individualized treatment for these underlying causes.
2. The low-T levels can be supplemented by hormones prescribed by a doctor. Expert recommendations vary on when to treat with hormones; some suggest treatment if levels are at 300ng/dl while others recommend starting treatment if levels are at 230 ng/dl. Although researchers suggest about 70% of men aged 70 and above have low-T, some researchers suggest that hormone treatment may not be effective in this age group. However, when prescribed, hormone therapy (testosterone) can be given in an injection, on a skin patch, in a gel put on the skin, or as an oral gel or putty applied to the gums.

In the US, there is no FDA approved method for testosterone replacement in females. However, some doctors may still prescribe some form of testosterone to females, but the efficacy and safety of this treatment has not been proven.

Treatment for infants and children should only be done by a qualified pediatric physician.

Use of topical hormones should be done with care. Women and children should not come in contact with the skin area treated with the absorbable testosterone as the hormone may be absorbed through their skin, too. This could cause women to develop male characteristics and children to develop early puberty.

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