Hormone Quiz for Low Testosterone Symptoms

[Nelson Vergel]

Hormone Quiz for Low Testosterone:​

Here is a hormone quiz for men who think they may have low testosterone symptoms:



How often do you feel tired or fatigued?

1. Rarely
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Almost always

Have you noticed a decrease in your sex drive or erectile function?

1. Rarely
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Almost always

Have you experienced a decrease in your muscle mass or an increase in body fat?

1. Rarely
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Almost always

Have you experienced a decrease in your beard or body hair growth?

1. Rarely
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Almost always

Have you experienced mood changes, such as irritability or depression?

1. Rarely
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Almost always

Have you experienced hot flashes or night sweats?

1. Rarely
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Almost always

Have you noticed a decrease in your bone density or been diagnosed with osteoporosis?

1. Rarely
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Almost always

Have you noticed a decrease in your energy levels or motivation?

1. Rarely
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Almost always

Have you experienced sleep problems, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep?

1. Rarely
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Almost always

Have you experienced a decrease in your overall sense of well-being?

1. Rarely
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Almost always

This quiz can be used as a preliminary tool to detect low testosterone levels, but it is important to note that a diagnosis can only be made by a medical professional. If you are experiencing any symptoms that concern you, it is best to schedule an appointment with your doctor.

What Are the Symptoms of Low Testosterone (Deficiency)?​

A number of tests are available to assist people assess whether they are suffering any of the symptoms associated with low testosterone levels in males, which can include a wide range of signs and symptoms. One such test asks about exhaustion or fatigue, a decline in erectile function or sex desire, changes in muscle mass or body fat, mood swings, hot flashes or night sweats, changes in bone density, sleep issues, and a decline in general sense of well-being. Yet, it's crucial to keep in mind that only a doctor can provide an official diagnosis of hypogonadism, or low testosterone. Lowered sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, melancholy, low energy and appetite, altered body composition, decreased strength, decreased body and facial hair, diminished mental clarity, and decreased bone density are some of the symptoms of hypogonadism that are frequently seen. Restoring sexual desire, enhancing erectile function, enhancing mood, increasing lean body mass, strength, and stamina, enhancing bone density, and reducing fat mass are just a few of the advantages of restoring normal testosterone levels. The Androgen Deficiency in the Aged Man (ADAM) questionnaire, a screening tool, can help with the diagnosis of hypogonadism in addition to blood testing and physical examinations. [1] [4]

As mentioned previously, hypogonadism is the medical term for the condition in males that is caused when the body is not producing sufficient amounts of testosterone. What most people don’t realize is that in addition to sexual desire, testosterone also affects lean body mass, strength, bone density, mental focus, mood, fat loss, and other important factors in both males and females.

Common complaints for men with hypogonadism include: lower sexual desire (libido), erectile dysfunction (softer erections or lack of erections), depression, low energy and appetite, changes in body composition (lower lean body mass and higher abdominal fat), lower strength, reductions in body and facial hair, less mental focus and decreased height and osteoporosis (decrease in bone density).

As Table 1 shows, normalizing testosterone in people who have lower than normal levels has dramatic benefits, among which are increased sexual desire, lean body mass, bone density, strength, mood, motivation, mental focus, and stamina. However, these benefits can be erased if proper monitoring, dose adjustment, and appropriate choice of testosterone replacement option are not accomplished.

Benefits of Normalizing Testosterone​

• Restored sexual desire
• Improved erectile function
• Improved mood/ sense of wellbeing
• Increased lean body mass, strength and stamina
• Improved bone density
• Decreased fat mass

Determining If You Have Testosterone Deficiency​

In addition to blood tests and physical examination, a brief screening instrument has also been developed by researchers at St. Louis University to aid in the diagnosis of hypogonadism. Known as the Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (ADAM) questionnaire:

1. Do you have a decrease in sex drive?
2. Do you lack energy?
3. Have you experienced a decrease in strength and/or endurance?
4. Do you feel shorter? Have you lost height? (Lower bone density can decrease height.)
5. Have you noticed a decreased enjoyment of life?
6. Are you sad and/or grumpy?
7. Are your erections less strong or gone?
8. Has it been more difficult to maintain your erection throughout sexual intercourse?

1. Are you falling asleep after dinner?
2. Has your work performance deteriorated recently?

Other questions that are usually not asked by doctors, but which I’ve found to be important are the following:

• Are you relating well with people around you?
• Are you being loving to your lover or life partner?
• Are you able to pay attention when someone talks to you?

In my life, low testosterone caused problems that went far beyond sex and my body. It affected how I related to people and my ability to handle stress at work and in life.

Note that several of the above-mentioned problems can be caused by many other issues unrelated to low testosterone. Depression, anxiety, stress, medications and/or sleep disorders can cause nine of those 10 symptoms (decrease in height would be the only item unrelated to anything but bone loss or back surgery). This questionnaire is not a perfect predictor of low testosterone and should not replace tests for testosterone blood levels.

The benefit of this questionnaire is that it may encourage some men to seek medical advice. Then they can get their testosterone checked and have a physical examination to help determine whether they are indeed hypogonadal.

Testosterone Deficiency Causes​

As previously stated, hypogonadism occurs when the testicles fail to produce normal levels of testosterone. One type of hypogonadism has low testosterone levels while high LH and FSH levels. In another case, there is insufficient LH and FSH secretion to signal the testicles to produce the required testosterone.


Medication such as Megace (an appetite stimulant), Nizoral (an anti-fungal agent), Prednisone (an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid), and Tagamet (an antacid) can all reduce testosterone production. Illness and aging can reduce testosterone and/or increase sex hormone binding globulin levels (SHBG). Furthermore,


High prolactin hormone levels may indicate a pituitary tumor causing a drop in testosterone production.
To determine the type of hypogonadism you have, your doctor must measure hormones in the HPGA cascade. The most common type of hypogonadism is low testosterone with normal or elevated FSH and LH levels, indicating that your testicles are not responding to both LH and FSH signals. This is known as primary hypogonadism.


There are several possible causes for low testosterone levels

• • The pituitary gland, which regulates testosterone production by secreting LH, is not secreting enough LH to stimulate testosterone production by the testicles. Total testosterone would be low in this case.
• • The hypothalamus isn't working properly. LH levels less than 2 ng/mL indicate a lesion in this region of the HPGA.
• • Despite adequate LH levels, the testicles have lost their ability to produce testosterone. Despite the low testosterone level, the LH level would be high (greater than 10 ng/mL).
• • Infections or disease.
• • Prescription or over-the-counter medications, as well as street drugs (more on this later).
• • Foods (more on this later).
• Obesity and poor sleep
• Environmental Factors
• • Mistake in the laboratory.
• Biotin supplementation in high doses and using an ECLIA-based testosterone test (interference)
• • High prolactin levels may indicate the presence of a pituitary tumor, which impairs the production of hormones that tell your testicles to produce testosterone (rare condition, but worth noting!)
• • Gene defects that affect LH and FSH production.

References:​

[1] "By age 30 or 35, testosterone levels decrease by about 1% each year. This gradual drop is a normal part of aging. By age 80, half of all men have low testosterone, according to the Urology Care Foundation. But testosterone levels can fluctuate daily, and even change from hour to hour. They are highest in the morning, which is why doctors run ..." URL: Do I Have Low Testosterone? | UPMC HealthBeat

[2] "Testosterone is a hormone produced by the testicles. Testosterone affects your appearance and sexual development, stimulates sperm production and sex drive, and helps build muscle and..." URL: https://www.healthline.com/health/low-testosterone/warning-signs

[3] "The truth about testosterone quiz: Low testosterone and ageing in men Health A-Z Drugs Supplements Living Healthy Mens Health Quizzes Quiz: The truth about testosterone 1 / 17 If..." URL: https://www.webmd.com/men/rm-quiz-truth-testosterone

[4] "Testosterone levels generally decrease with age, so older men tend to have low blood testosterone levels. Some men have low testosterone levels. This is called Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome (TD) or Low Testosterone (Low-T). Deficiency means that the body does not have enough of a needed substance." URL: https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/l/low-testosterone

[5] "Our testosterone quiz can help determine if you have low testosterone and could benefit from treatment. Testosterone is a hormone that plays a key role in many aspects of male health, including sex drive, muscle mass and strength, and bone density." URL: Testosterone Quiz - Phoenix Men's Health Center

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