Thousands of men are coping with low testosterone levels, and many of them may not even know. 

“I do feel like it’s often missed,” said Kate Clawson, owner of PharmAssist Weight Management & Men’s Health in Valley Center. “Some men never have their testosterone levels tested, and that could be a barrier to getting treatment.”

Clawson’s background is in weight management, with 16 years as a nurse practitioner in bariatric medicine. Through this work, Clawson noticed a trend: Many men dealing with obesity or weight gain suffered from low testosterone levels but didn’t know, and thus hadn’t considered treatment. Clawson says lack of awareness could be to blame along with other barriers, including concerns of side effects such as acne or changes in mood and difficulty finding a provider. That’s where PharmAssist Weight Management & Men’s Health in Valley Center can help. 

“I found that a lot of the larger chain men’s health clinics have difficulty giving men a personalized plan,” Clawson said. “I see each patient as an individual; I look at the whole picture, not just their bloodwork.”

Many men fear testosterone replacement therapy due to misconceptions surrounding it, such as an increased risk of prostate cancer and heart attacks, which studies have shown not to be true. 

Embarrassment can also keep a lot of men from seeking treatment. “I think they’re embarrassed to talk about erectile dysfunction and some of the other symptoms that come with low testosterone levels,” Clawson said. “It affects their relationships, their marriage, and it’s embarrassing to come to a provider and tell them they need to fix this problem.” 

Symptoms of low testosterone levels include difficulty concentrating, weight gain, low muscle mass, erectile dysfunction, low sex drive, low energy levels, changes in mood and cognition among less noticeable symptoms such as reduced bone density. “Initially men will come to me because they want weight loss and they have sleep apnea and no energy, but they haven’t had their testosterone levels checked,” Clawson said. “They kind of go hand-in-hand because oftentimes as men gain weight their testosterone levels decrease.”

According to a 2015 study published in “Urology” where thousands of men between the ages of 18 and 85 were surveyed, more than 36 percent of men tested with low testosterone levels, while only just under 18 percent of them were treated for it. Research suggests that testosterone levels for men decrease by 10 percent every decade; still, low testosterone levels can affect men of nearly any age. 

“Some men say testosterone replacement therapy has improved their marriages, their relationships, it’s improved their work performances, it’s making men feel better and get their lives back,” Clawson said. “Many men come in saying they don’t have drive in their lives and feel they can’t fix it. But after treatment, they didn’t realize how bad they felt until they started feeling better.”

Most testosterone therapy involves twice-weekly injections or a daily cream application. Clawson says men can also preserve fertility despite testosterone therapy. If you are experiencing symptoms of low testosterone levels, Clawson says seeking answers can be life-changing. 

“Men are doers, they are supposed to be doing and creating, and when they just don’t feel that and they have no energy when they get home from work, it impacts everybody,” Clawson said. “When I see they are enjoying the activities of daily life and their relationships are thriving, it’s rewarding.”

The clinic also offers weight loss medication and therapies, including injectable GLP-1 medications. You can schedule an appointment on their website pharmaweighthelp.com.