Your sex drive is gone. You can’t keep an erection. And was that a hot flash? What’s going on?
Many things can cause these conditions. But, often, your testicles can be the sneaky culprits. They may not make enough of an important sex hormone called testosterone. Low testosterone can be congenital (born with it) or acquired (developed in childhood or adulthood). But you don’t have to accept it as something that comes with aging. And you don’t have to say goodbye to a fulfilling sex life, either. The good news is that low testosterone (male hypogonadism) is treatable.
Cleveland Clinic’s expert healthcare providers will put together a personalized treatment plan that focuses on your unique symptoms. And we’ll guide you through what it takes to balance your testosterone levels so you can get back to feeling like yourself again.
We provide confidential, personalized care for low testosterone and other urological and sexual health conditions for men. We understand talking about these kinds of conditions can be difficult. But we’re here to help you feel comfortable and confident about moving forward with treatment. Meet our team.
Cleveland Clinic is actively involved in research to help you benefit from the latest treatment tools and methods before they’re widely available. You may also be able to participate in one of our clinical trials.
We offer the best and latest information about your condition so you can understand what’s happening throughout diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care. We combine this with the highest quality care and support — always keeping you as the focus of everything we do.
We make it easy for you to get the care you need. Many of our healthcare providers offer virtual visits for your first appointment to discuss diagnosis and treatment options. You’ll get one-on-one attention from your provider from the comfort of your own home. You can then schedule an in-person visit to follow up.
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Testosterone helps develop and maintain your sex organs, muscle mass, bone density, sex drive and even red blood cell levels. It can also affect your overall sense of well-being. Your testicles make and release testosterone. And your pituitary gland and hypothalamus control the amount of this hormone in your body.
Hormone levels decline as you age, but that isn’t the only reason you may have low testosterone. Maybe you injured your testicles or have an infection. Or you might’ve been born with undescended testicles or a genetic condition that causes your testicles not to make enough testosterone.
When testicular conditions cause low testosterone, it’s called primary hypogonadism. If it turns out low testosterone levels are linked to your hypothalamus or pituitary gland, then you have secondary hypogonadism.
A low sex drive and erectile dysfunction (ED) are two main signs of low testosterone, but you may have other symptoms, too, like, low energy, fuzzy thinking and increased body fat with less muscle mass. When you notice these symptoms, it’s time to get help.
Talking about your testicles and your sex life may feel a bit uncomfortable. But we’re used to it. That’s what we do every day. You can count on us to make you feel at ease and more confident in sharing your story with us.
At your appointment, your provider will answer your questions and ask a few of their own, like:
During this visit, your provider will also do a physical exam to look for any signs and symptoms of low testosterone. You may also get orders for different blood tests to check your testosterone levels and rule out other conditions with similar symptoms. These could include:
When you come to Cleveland Clinic, you’ll get a handpicked care team of providers from different specialties who’ll guide your diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care. These providers are chosen based on your needs and may include:
This team works together to confirm your diagnosis. Once they pinpoint the cause, they’ll craft a treatment plan based on your specific needs.
Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio and Florida.
Treating low testosterone isn’t a “one-and-done” process like taking a single pill. You’ll start ongoing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to rebalance your hormone levels and reduce or eliminate the symptoms that come with it. You may have:
Your care team will go over which of these treatments is best for you based on your symptoms, test results and treatment goals. We’ll also work with you to help you stop smoking, avoid too much alcohol and drug use, manage your weight and eat a healthy diet. We’ll even diagnose and help treat sleep apnea, if you have it.
Even though testosterone levels drop throughout your life, you don’t have to live with the symptoms. We’re here to help you find out what’s causing your low testosterone and start the right testosterone replacement treatment for you. Our skilled and compassionate healthcare providers listen carefully and guide you through what to expect as you move ahead with treatment.
Getting an appointment with Cleveland Clinic’s low testosterone experts is easy. We help you get the care you need.
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