What's the long-term impact of permanently low testosterone?

Posted by hergiew @hergiew, Jan 15, 2023

What is the long-term impact on permanently having low testosterone, about 15?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

My testosterone tested in Sept 2020 at 660 ng/dL (at the end of 4 months of ADT (androgen deprivation therapy) and more recently at 470 ng/dL (That's nanograms/deciliter) . (I don't fully understand the decline after the ADT wore off)

My test showed a standard range (which I assume is age adjusted) of 240 - 950 ng/dL

So, if your 15 is on the same scale that is incredibly low.
Have you been on ADT?
Here on Mayo Connect, many men who go on ADT as a precaution or who are on ADT due to metastatic PCa
report:
*no interest in sex (low libido)
*reduced or loss of ability to sustain an erection ED (erectile dysfunction)
*genital shrinkage
*brain fog
*loss of muscle mass and physical strength
*fatigue (to varying degrees)
*hot flashes
other sources report:
*loss of bone density
*changes in blood lipids
*insulin resistance
*weight gain
*mood swings
*growth of breast tissue (gynecomastia)
***some of this copied from: https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/prostate-hormone-therapy-fact-sheet
An interesting review here of the importance of physical activity: https://youtu.be/2tSPO9Ss1Ag
Another: New Study: Hormone Therapy & Heart Disease | Diet & Exercise https://youtu.be/9Jec4kEG4-g

Also on Mayo Connect here, some men with very low Testosterone after ending ADT have asked about testosterone supplementation. That might happen for some men on a case-by-case basis, but generally Testosterone is seen as the 'fuel' for prostate cancer .

so, hope this gets the conversation going

REPLY

I had SBRT 5 sessions over 10 days in Rochester in 9/2020 proceeded by a 3-month injection of Eligard. My symptoms include
*no interest in sex (low libido)
*reduced or loss of ability to sustain an erection ED (erectile dysfunction)
*genital shrinkage
*brain fog
*loss of muscle mass and physical strength
*fatigue (to varying degrees)
*hot flashes( ended after a month thank God)
other sources report:
*weight gain
*mood swings
*growth of breast
Testosterone, Total by Mass Spectrometry, Serum 205 ng/dL 240 - 950 ng/dL Low,
tested in 9/22, down from 209 the previous year. In speaking to my Radiation Oncologist, he tells me that this low level might be my new baseline, I'm soon to be 75, so lack of sex drive is pretty much OK, my one concern is if I ever need a Foley Catheter, could they perform it.

REPLY
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