Low testosterone can be an extremely serious health condition. Unfortunately, very few of the millions of men afflicted with it actually seek treatment. This is because the causes are not always obvious. If you asked the typical man to name a cause, they would probably say physical damage to the testes (maybe a baseball). While this is true, low testosterone can be caused by a huge variety of things. Some of them will not be as obvious as a baseball injury which is why so many men do not suspect they have this problem.

One thing that is important to mention is that the production of testosterone naturally declines with age. Figure around 1% annually after the age of 30. This is sometimes referred to as andropause. This is completely natural. But for those who’s natural levels of testosterone are already low, the gradual lessening of levels over time is enough to become a serious issue.

Here are some other possible causes:

Brain injury – A heart attack, stroke or asphyxiation for an extended period of time can injure the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. These parts of your brain are integral in your body’s production of testosterone and any damage can short circuit the system. Issues can also be caused by diseases that affect this area of the brain.

Testicular injury – Your testicles are the organs that actually produce testosterone. Obviously any damage to it has the potential to disrupt production. This can be result of physical trauma or castration (because of testicular cancer). Radiation therapy and chemotherapy can also inhibit production.

Vasectomy – An autoimmune disorder can develop as a side effect as a result of this surgery. Your sperm are treated as germs and are attacked by your own immune system. Since they are located in close proximity to your testicles, this can result in testicular injury.

Medications – There are a long list of medications that are known to lower testosterone. Most tend to fall into a couple categories, including: anti-hypertensives, antidepressants, tranquilizers and anticholinergics. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned.

Genetically-based conditions – There are a number of conditions that can affect testosterone production. This includes klinfelter’s syndrome, myotonic dystrophy and hemochromatosis.

Many of these causes you will not be able to detect on your own. Low testosterone is a very serious health condition that can even lead to an early death. Take active management and so something about it. It is highly suggested that you seek a doctor.