Low testosterone levels can be associated with lower sex drive and fatigue. This is known as testosterone deficiency (TD), loosely termed andropause.
Unlike women who have a sudden drop in estrogens when they reach menopause, this is not the case in men. Men with TD have a gradual drop in the peak levels of testosterone. This peak usually occurs in the morning around 7 to 11 am. As a men ages, those who develop TD have a lower peak level of testosterone and in some men no peak at all. This results in the symptoms mentioned above.
If there is a sudden drop in testosterone levels, the urologist would assess if it is due to a central cause i.e. whether it is due to medical conditions affecting the pituitary gland. Other causes include medications and conditions affecting the health of the testis e.g. testicular tumour or severe infections of the testis (orchitis).
