Side Effects of Low Testosterone
Introduction
Hormones are an essential component of human development and function. They regulate many anatomical processes. Proper levels are vital for overall physical health and emotional well-being. Testosterone, the male sex hormone, influences everything from muscle mass to metabolism to mental acuity.
Testosterone levels can drop due to several factors, altering how a man thinks and feels. While some hormone loss is a natural part of aging, pronounced dips cause various effects that compromise the quality of life and overall wellness.
Every man should learn the side effects of low testosterone. Alterations in hormone levels can progress slowly, causing imperceptible day-to-day changes that are significant when viewed over a longer timeline.
This article covers the symptoms of low testosterone, why levels drop, and how to treat the condition. Self-monitoring and vigilance will help you spot low testosterone and talk to your doctor about solutions.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone
Low testosterone symptoms vary from man to man. Your baseline testosterone and the extent of the level change influence their severity and persistence. While low testosterone, called male hypogonadism, can be a standalone condition, it is often a symptom of a more serious underlying health problem. This complication makes it even more critical to monitor yourself.
One of the most common symptoms is erectile dysfunction (ED). This condition occurs when erections are not firm or long-lasting enough for sex. Symptoms can range from occasional soft erections to the persistent inability to get hard.
Along similar lines, low sex drive is a symptom of testosterone loss. While your interest in sex naturally ebbs and flows, complete disinterest is abnormal.
Changes in body composition, including loss of muscle mass and increased belly fat, often indicate low testosterone because the body loses its ability to regulate metabolism. Some men experience hair loss or thinning on the head, face, and body.
Mood and emotional changes may also indicate low testosterone. Irritability, increased stress, depression, and anxiety can all be signs of hormone changes. Some men have trouble focusing or mental cloudiness when their testosterone levels drop.
Causes of Low Testosterone
One of the most significant, but easiest to correct, causes of low testosterone is lifestyle and health. In general, anything that harms your overall well-being can depress hormone levels. Being obese, leading a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and illicit drug use lower testosterone.
Aging also causes testosterone loss. After levels peak in your twenties, they naturally fall year-to-year. Once the hormone change reaches a certain level, which varies from man to man, it begins causing symptoms.
Underlying health conditions can also lower testosterone levels. Diabetes, thyroid disorders, and other illnesses can depress hormone production, leaving your body with less usable testosterone. Doctors often detect these illnesses because low testosterone is an early symptom of many chronic disorders.
Certain medications can also lower testosterone as a side effect. As men age, they are more likely to suffer from chronic health disorders and take medication. These situations make it even easier for them to dismiss low testosterone as a sign of aging.
How is Low Testosterone Diagnosed?
While low testosterone can have varying presentations and many potential causes, diagnosing the condition is easy for trained physicians. Usually, a simple medical consultation and a routine blood test are all it takes.
Your doctor will conduct a brief physical examination and discuss your symptoms. Being upfront and comprehensive about the extent and severity of your symptoms will help the doctor accurately assess your condition and plan potential treatments.
The doctor will also order a blood test to measure the total testosterone level in your blood and how much is available for your body to use. The test requires a blood draw using a thin needle and a small amount of blood.
How is Low Testosterone Treated?
Doctors treat testosterone loss based on its cause, the severity of symptoms, and the extent of the change. In almost all cases, they will suggest lifestyle modifications. For some men, losing weight, increasing their exercise, and moderating alcohol use can naturally raise levels.
If low testosterone is a symptom of a more serious medical condition, they will treat the underlying disorder. In many cases, managing diabetes or treating a chronic illness can increase testosterone production.
Doctors also use testosterone replacement therapy to introduce outside testosterone to a man's body. These treatments rapidly increase the usable testosterone in your blood, addressing your symptoms.
Doctors may order testosterone injections, topical patches, gels, or implantable pellets. These interventions are time-tested and effective. Every man responds differently, so finding the optimal dose and method may take time.
FAQ
What happens if low testosterone goes untreated?
While untreated low testosterone is not life-threatening, the signs and symptoms will worsen. As low testosterone alters mood, slows metabolism, and changes sexual function, men often experience stress and depression. These conditions exacerbate testosterone loss.
Chronically low testosterone increases a man's risk of coronary heart disease, bone fractures, and insulin resistance.
What is a low testosterone level?
The medical consensus is that 300 ng/dL of testosterone or less is low. However, levels do not have to reach this level to begin causing body and mood changes. Your genetics and health determine your baseline testosterone.
It's essential to consult a doctor because they can take a holistic view. The findings of their physical exam, your self-reported symptoms, and the levels found on the blood test will inform a low testosterone diagnosis and treatment plan.
How common is low testosterone?
Researchers estimate that four to five million men in the United States have low testosterone. They also believe many cases are underdiagnosed and underreported because men dismiss their symptoms as part of aging. Additionally, the prevalence of low testosterone is rising in men under 30 years old.
How do I boost my testosterone levels?
The best natural way to boost testosterone levels is by losing weight, building muscle through high-intensity interval training, eating a diet low in sugar and processed foods, and reducing alcohol intake.
While this will improve levels, finding the best treatment depends on the cause of your hormone loss. Testosterone replacement therapy can boost and stabilize levels. The only way to safely and effectively resolve low testosterone is by consulting an experienced physician.
Over-the-counter supplements and vitamins often overstate their effects on testosterone. It's best to treat these products skeptically.
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February 21, 2023
Written By
Jake Peter
Fact-checked By
Dr. Avidon Appel
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