Testosterone influences far more than libido — it shapes energy, mood, muscle, focus, and overall vitality. When levels fall too low, the effects can quietly erode quality of life, yet low testosterone is both common and highly treatable. The goal isn’t simply to push numbers higher; it’s to safely restore healthy levels in a way that fits each man’s body and goals, including, when it matters, preserving his fertility.
Dr. Justin Houman is a board-certified urologist, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and Assistant Professor of Urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, fellowship-trained in male reproductive medicine at UCLA. That fertility background sets his approach apart: because standard testosterone therapy can suppress sperm production, he is uniquely equipped to optimize testosterone while protecting a man’s ability to have children when that’s a priority. Featured in national media including Men’s Health and the New York Post, he pairs that expertise with careful, evidence-based monitoring.
I highly recommend Dr. Houman. He’s a great listener and has provided me with a treatment that has made a positive impact on my life. I trust him 100%. After years of suffering, all of my symptoms have been alleviated and all the health benefits are amazing.
What Is Low Testosterone?
Low testosterone, or hypogonadism, occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough of this essential hormone. It becomes more common with age but can affect men at any stage of life, sometimes due to an underlying medical condition. Because testosterone supports so many systems at once, low levels can show up in ways men don’t immediately connect to a hormone — which is why a proper evaluation, rather than guesswork, is the right starting point.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Men
Low testosterone can affect both how a man feels and how his body functions. Common signs include:
Reduced Libido
A drop in sex drive is one of the most common symptoms.
Fatigue and Low Energy
Persistent tiredness not explained by sleep or activity.
Erectile Difficulties
Low testosterone can contribute to issues with erections.
Mood Changes
Irritability, low mood, or a general sense of flatness.
Loss of Muscle and Strength
Declining muscle mass despite normal activity.
Difficulty Concentrating
Trouble with focus, often described as brain fog.
Diagnosing Low Testosterone
An accurate diagnosis depends on more than a single number. Testosterone is measured with a morning blood test, when levels are highest, and typically confirmed with a second test before any treatment begins. Dr. Houman also evaluates related hormones and overall health to identify the underlying cause, because the right treatment depends on why levels are low — not just that they are.
Testosterone Treatment Options
Treatment is tailored to your symptoms, labs, and goals. For men who don’t wish to preserve fertility, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is available in several forms — injections, gels, patches, and long-acting pellets. For men who want to maintain fertility, Dr. Houman often turns to alternatives such as clomid or enclomiphene or hCG, which can raise the body’s own testosterone without suppressing sperm production. This distinction is important: standard TRT signals the body to stop making its own testosterone and sperm, so the right choice depends entirely on your goals.
Protecting Fertility During Testosterone Therapy
This is where a reproductive-medicine background genuinely matters. Many men, especially younger ones, are prescribed testosterone without being told it can sharply reduce or even halt sperm production. As a fellowship-trained reproductive urologist, Dr. Houman can raise testosterone using fertility-sparing strategies, or coordinate care to protect fertility, so men don’t have to choose between feeling well and keeping the option to have children. If fertility is a consideration, it should be part of the conversation from day one.
Low Testosterone and Hormone Services
Explore the related services below to learn more about your options:
What to Expect: Monitoring and Results
Testosterone therapy is not a “set it and forget it” treatment. Dr. Houman monitors hormone levels and key safety markers — including red blood cell count and prostate health — with regular lab work, adjusting the plan over time to keep it both effective and safe. Most men notice improvements in energy, libido, and mood within a few weeks, with fuller benefits developing over several months as treatment is fine-tuned.
Frequently Asked Questions About Testosterone Optimization
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Common signs include low libido, fatigue, erectile difficulties, low mood, reduced muscle mass, and trouble concentrating — though these can overlap with other conditions, which is why testing matters.
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It’s diagnosed with a morning blood test, typically confirmed on a second test, along with related hormone labs to identify the underlying cause.
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It can — standard testosterone therapy often suppresses sperm production, so men who want to preserve fertility may be better served by alternatives like clomid or enclomiphene that raise testosterone without shutting down sperm.
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Options include injections, gels, patches, and long-acting pellets, as well as fertility-sparing medications, selected based on your goals and lifestyle.
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When properly prescribed and monitored, it’s generally safe; Dr. Houman tracks markers such as red blood cell count and prostate health with regular lab work to keep treatment safe over time.
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Many men notice improvements in energy, libido, and mood within a few weeks, with fuller benefits developing over several months.
Why Choose Dr. Houman for Testosterone Optimization in Los Angeles
- Fertility-Sparing Expertise: Optimization that can protect fertility, thanks to reproductive-medicine training.
- Evidence-Based Monitoring: Careful lab tracking to keep treatment effective and safe over time.
- Individualized Plans: Treatment matched to your symptoms, labs, and goals, not a one-size protocol.
- Whole-Health Perspective: Testosterone addressed alongside lifestyle and overall wellbeing.
Meet Dr. Houman
Expert in Men’s Health with Tower Urology and Cedars Sinai
Dr. Justin Houman, MD, FACS is a board-certified urologist and fellowship-trained microsurgeon at Tower Urology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. His subspecialty training in male reproductive medicine and microsurgery is held by fewer than 2% of practicing urologists in the United States.
His clinical focus is narrow by design. Varicoceles, chronic testicular pain, male infertility, vasectomy, testosterone optimization, erectile dysfunction, penile implant surgery, and Peyronie’s disease are not add-on services here. They are the practice. Patients travel from across the country and internationally for procedures, particularly microsurgical varicocelectomy, spermatic cord denervation, and inflatable penile implant surgery, that require a level of subspecialty training and surgical volume most urology practices do not have.
Testosterone Optimization in Los Angeles
If low energy, low libido, or a general sense of running on empty sounds familiar, low testosterone may be the reason — and the right plan can make a real difference. Dr. Houman offers thorough evaluation and personalized, carefully monitored testosterone optimization for men across Los Angeles and Southern California, with fertility kept firmly in mind. Contact the Los Angeles office to schedule a consultation and find out where your levels stand.
