What is low testosterone?

    Researchedby:
    Mike Murray

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Morgan Pfiffner
    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Testosterone is the best-known androgen (i.e., male sex hormone). It is secreted by the testicles and is responsible for the development and maintenance of secondary male characteristics (e.g., increased body and facial hair, enlarged larynx, deep voice, muscularity). Low testosterone (i.e., hypogonadism) results from the failure of the testicles (i.e., the gonads) to produce normal levels of testosterone due to a problem within the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis.[1]

    References

    1. ^Shalender Bhasin, Juan P Brito, Glenn R Cunningham, Frances J Hayes, Howard N Hodis, Alvin M Matsumoto, Peter J Snyder, Ronald S Swerdloff, Frederick C Wu, Maria A YialamasTestosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice GuidelineJ Clin Endocrinol Metab.(2018 May 1)