Low Testosterone: 4 Reasons You May Need An Ultrasound

For many men, having low testosterone can have a lot of negative impacts on their daily lives. It can change the way they act, feel, and are able to provide for their partners. Often, low testosterone is related to hormones and genetics, but there may be a underlying cause that the man is not aware about at all. To help discover a more direct cause for these problems, a doctor may decide to order an ultrasound. An ultrasound can be done in many areas to help determine the exact cause of these problems. By going through the ultrasound process, you can have the answers that you need to figure out where the low testosterone stems from.

Hypothyroidism

One disease that is often associated with low testosterone levels is hypothyroidism. This disease occurs when your thyroid does not function properly and does not provide enough levels for your body to actively make testosterone. During an ultrasound of your thyroid, doctors and technicians will look to see if any part of your thyroid has been enlarged. An enlarged thyroid may not work properly and result in hypothyroidism. Along with the ultrasound, a doctor will often order blood work to test the testosterone levels and the thyroid levels in your body. If they correlate, then you may be diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Once you are, you will likely get prescribed some type of medicine like Synthroid. When on this medication, it can help your testosterone naturally increase.

Thyroid Cancer

An ultrasound of thyroid may also be taken to help look for signs of thyroid cancer. An enlarged thyroid is not also associated with hypothyroidism. If your thyroid has any suspicious growths or tumors on it, then it may be blocking the production of your testosterone. If this is the case, then the ultrasound can showcase the specific areas where the tumors are located. This can give the doctor a better idea of what to look forward and how to move forward with your situation. An ultrasound can lead to further tests including a more detailed ultrasound, biopsy of the area, and more frequent testosterone tests. Using all of these results, a recovery path can be planned to not only remove the cancer, but help raise your testosterone at the same time.

Kidney Diseases

While the thyroid may be one of the main areas that an ultrasound is focused on, a doctor may chose to have other ultrasounds depending on those results. If your thyroid is looking normal, a doctor may consider getting an ultrasound on your kidney. There are a number of issues with the kidney that can result in low testosterone. One of the more serious conditions is chronic kidney disease. This disease involves the slowing function of the kidneys in your body. Ultrasounds can showcase how the kidney is functioning and there may be blood tests to help showcase additional details. If you are suffering from chronic kidney disease, then the main focus of your treatment will be on the kidney rather than the testosterone. If treatments go well, then you testosterone levels may raise naturally because of it.

Liver Problems

Alcohol use has been long associated with low testosterone and this is often directly related to damages within the liver. Over time, the over consumption of alcohol can lead to liver issues, including a disease known as cirrhosis. Getting an ultrasound of the liver is a great way to showcase any problems within the organ and to see if that's what's impacting your testosterone levels. Stopping alcohol use is a good way to help with your testosterone and ensure that your body raises the levels naturally without causing more damage to the liver.

Contact a doctor to find out more information on getting ultrasounds and getting a clearer picture of your body. For more information, contact companies like EVDI Medical Imaging.