Endocrine Society is a global community of physicians and scientists dedicated to accelerating scientific breakthroughs and improving patient health and well being. For 100 years, the Endocrine Society has been at the forefront of hormone science and public health. After 1 year, prostate monitoring should conform to standard guidelines for prostate cancer screening based on the race and age of the patient. Our Find a Provider tool makes it easy to search Cleveland Clinic’s trusted network. The experts in endocrinology at Cleveland Clinic are here to provide the best care. If they’re consistently high or low, you may experience unpleasant symptoms worth discussing with your provider. Testosterone is an essential part of reproductive health. Clinicians should inform testosterone deficient patients that low testosterone is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. PSA should be measured in men over 40 years of age prior to commencement of testosterone therapy to exclude a prostate cancer diagnosis. Men with testosterone deficiency who are interested in fertility should have a reproductive health evaluation performed prior to treatment. Clinicians should use a total testosterone level below 300 ng/dL as a reasonable cut-off in support of the diagnosis of low testosterone. Administration of 750 mg of IM testosterone undecanoate at weeks 0, 4, and every 10 weeks thereafter maintained total testosterone levels between 300-1,000 ng/dL for 94% of men.438 No men experienced maximal values Adverse Effects. There is no utility in continuing testosterone therapy in men who achieve target testosterone levels without symptom improvement. Patients on testosterone therapy should have serum testosterone levels checked every 6-12 months to ensure maintenance of target levels. Liu et al. conducted a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized trial assessing response to hCG therapy in older men (mean age 67 years) with androgen deficiency.399 The authors found a 150% increase in total testosterone level, which they concluded demonstrates that older males retain "testicular responsiveness" to gonadotropin therapy. One study of 60 patients undergoing long-term therapy of 50 mg methyltestosterone three times a day found that nearly one-third of patients, none of whom had a history of liver disease, returned abnormal liver function tests and/or liver scans.387 Testosterone undecanoate is an oral testosterone analogue that is absorbed via the intestinal lymphatics allowing it to avoid the first pass liver effect. In the absence of long-term RCTs evaluating whether testosterone therapy results in cardiovascular benefit or harm, the decision to use testosterone therapy in such patients should be based on a shared decision-making approach between clinicians and patients. It’s important to note that the normal ranges for testosterone levels can vary based on the type of blood test done and the laboratory where it is done. If any of these organs — your hypothalamus, pituitary gland or gonads — aren’t working normally, that can cause abnormal testosterone levels. As testosterone in your blood increases, it suppresses the production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which helps maintain normal levels of testosterone. If testosterone levels are too high or too low, it can cause certain symptoms. Conversely, the Shores, 367 Muraleedharan,233 and Baillargeon373 studies determined that there was no increased risk of MACE in men who were on testosterone therapy. Included in these events were 33 deaths, 22 of which were in men who were on testosterone therapy, and 11 in the placebo groups. For people with sleep apnea, that means being compliant with your CPAP therapy. "Chronic illnesses can keep your brain from sending out the right signals to tell your testicles to make more testosterone," Dr. Pantalone explains. "People should not be treated for low numbers and no symptoms or symptoms but no low number. It’s about understanding the cause of low testosterone and addressing any underlying medical issues," says endocrinologist Kevin Pantalone, DO. "It’s not just a matter of treating a low testosterone number. The messages about low testosterone, or "low T," seem to be taking hold. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Urologists may be more aggressive in addressing sexual symptoms and may offer more options like testicular implants or surgical interventions. An endocrinologist specializes in hormonal disorders and treats low testosterone from a systemic, endocrine perspective. With the correct care, men with low testosterone can feel better, regain energy, and improve their quality of life.