Testosterone Deficiency

[mattluke73]

Has anyone here had a vasectomy and then been diagnosed with low testosterone a couple years later. It seems that about a year after my vasectomy I began to notice the changes, mood swings, depression lack of energy, ED,...

[jgnoonan]

I am wondering the same thing. I had a vasectomy about 18 years ago and within a year started experiencing depression. Was treated on and off for that for the last 18 years. Got to the point this year that I was so exhausted all the time it was such a great effort to get out of bed. I also noticed that I no longer got erections during the night (most men have them every 45-60 minutes during sleep). My doctor finally added a testosterone level test and my level came back at 180 for a 47 yo! I have been on androgel and testim and the testim seems to work better but my doctor really doesn't know much about low t so I am going to an endocronologist this coming week. I would like to know if this is due to hypothalamus, pituitary, or testes. My guess is that my testes were damaged during the vasectomy. I'll keep you posted.

[lavender]

My husband, now 35, got a vasectomy after the birth of our second child last December. He was 34 then. Soon after getting the vasectomy, he started having ED, lethargy, and depression. The doctor blamed it on having another baby and the stress of selling our house. But other things didn't add up. The ED got worse, he got even more tired, more depressed, and gained a bunch of weight so fast even though his diet and exercise had not changed at all. He even gave up ice cream in attempt to shed some pounds. Anyways, we found out he has low testosterone now. Even after applying one packet of Androgel a day, his testosterone is still too low. So, the family physician upped his dose to 2 packets. We've looked into generics for testosterone and it is only available in shot form which scares him. But with our $4,000 deductible next year and after that $60 copays each month for the gel alone, he may do the shots instead. He's also on Viagra. I am so frustrated not just because of the cost, but because I believe that all this is a result of the vasectomy. I also worry about the risks involved with Viagra. I feel so bad that he got the vasectomy. Doctors have denied that the vasectomy is the cause. My husband and I don't believe this though. Had I known there was even a possibility of this happening, we would not have had him go through this. We just thought having a vasectomy would be safer and easier than the alternatives.

[jgnoonan]

I know exactly what your going through. I am going to the endocronologist for the first time since my diagnosis by my PCP. Through blood tests, they should be able to tell whether the low T is caused by the pituitary, hypothalamus, or testes. My guess is the testes. I am on testim, but it is not really working. You need to understand that you may have to try different methods (I've tried Androgel and now testim) because not all treatments seem to work. The testim seems a little better than the Androgel, which did nothing. I have a very demanding, high-paced job and it takes every ounce of energy to get through the day. Keep us posted on your husband's progress. Don't feel guilty about the vasectomy either. The doctors insist that they are not related but we all know better.

[mattluke73]

I'm not sure where you live but my Dr. (Urologist) had me go to a compounding pharmacy to get my prescription filled. It's $65/month. I don't think that is cheap but it is less expensive than the name brand, pre compounded packets I hear about on here. It works for me. My symptoms are gone. However, I, like most people who take Testosterone supplements, have noticed that my testicles have gotten smaller. I am looking in to a different type of medication that will give me the normal testosterone levels but not cause this side effect. I guess it doesn't happen to everyone but it has me. They say that Clomid will not do this as it stimulates normal Testosterone production. I am going back to the Dr. in a couple of weeks and will get some information on that. I know you can buy that online at different online pharmacies. Some of them require you to fax in your prescription and are less expensive than going to a regular pharmacy as well. Let me know how your husband does. I wish y'all the best of luck. I know how bad it sucks because I am going through it myself even though the doctors say it has nothing to do with the vasectomy. This started happening to me when I was in my twenties. Like 27 or so I think and I am 35 now. If I had only known, we would have bought a big supply of condoms and said to hell with it! That being said, like I said before, nobody will agree that this is caused by vasectomy but only a coincidence that this started happening really soon afterwards. They all say that the ED is psychological and that my testosterone isn't "that" low. Well, all of them besides my Urologist who prescribed the cream. Good Luck, keep me posted.

Matt