Low testosterone is common in men who have the following conditions:
If you have any of these conditions and are experiencing symptoms of low testosterone, you may need to have your testosterone levels measured. Ask your doctor if you should be tested.
Men with type 2 diabetes have higher rates of low testosterone. Recent research suggests that low testosterone may be found in 30- 50% of men with type 2 diabetes.
Low testosterone and erectile dysfunction (ED) are different, but low testosterone is common in men with ED. A recent study showed almost 1 out of 5 men with ED also had low testosterone. While symptoms of these conditions can be similar, low testosterone is different in that it's associated not only with fewer and weaker erections but also with other sexual and nonsexual symptoms.
Clinical studies have shown the close association between obesity and the presence of the signs and symptoms of low testosterone. Almost half of men in one study who were considered obese were also found to have low serum testosterone levels, and that number rises even further if they also have type 2 diabetes.
In one of the largest clinical studies in the US, men with high cholesterol, prostate disease, and asthma were also more likely to have low testosterone than healthy men. Elevations of serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides are more common in men with hypogonadism, and are associated with significant increases in the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Chronic Pain Medication Use
If you're using prescription opioids to treat chronic pain, you may be at a higher risk for having low testosterone. The use of certain pain medications, such as opioids, may decrease the production of testosterone. A study published in the Journal of Pain showed that up to 74% of men using opioids for treatment of chronic pain have low testosterone.
Research shows that about 30% of HIV-infected men have low testosterone. The reasons are complex and may be a result of the infection or complications related to HIV infection. For example, evidence suggests that HIV can directly affect the testicles, which can cause them to underproduce testosterone.