Testosterone Some Questions Worth Asking

By Frank Melograno, MD

In today's world that is often times, rush, rush, rush, we are all looking for things that are simple, quick and effective. Quizzes have longtime been a popular method of asking short questions to gain valuable feedback on a subject matter. I'm sure we all remember them from school.

There is actually a short quiz for testosterone that demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 88% and 60% against serum bioavailable testosterone levels, which is to say it works pretty well as a screening tool. It is called the St. Louis University's ADAM. The acronym ADAM stands for Androgen Decline in Aging Male. As men age in years their testosterone tends to go down in amount, so we see patients more prone to developing low testosterone with each passing birthday.

The ADAM is 10 short questions you can answer in probably a minute and get a feel for if your testosterone levels may be in decline. Here are the questions

1. Do you have a decrease in libido (sex drive)?

2. Do you have a lack of energy?

3. Do you have a decrease in strength and/or endurance?

4. Have you lost height?

5. Have you noticed a decreased “enjoyment of life”?

6. Are you sad and/or grumpy?

7. Are your erections less strong?

8. Have you noticed a recent deterioration in your ability to play sports?

9. Are you falling asleep after dinner?

10. Has there been a recent deterioration in your work performance?

If you answer yes to number 1 or 7, or if you answer yes to more than 3 questions, you may have low testosterone.

This questionnaire can also be helpful for patients and their physicians as the patient seeks to describe the kind and severity of their symptoms commonly associated with low testosterone to their physician.

If you think you may be experiencing some of the symptoms of low testosterone you should talk openly with your physician. Make sure your doctor is aware of what is going on. Even if you don't find the symptoms overly bothersome they can sometimes be leading indicators of underlying risk factors. Be informed, speak up and be healthy.