What Causes Low Testosterone in Young Males?
Introduction
Beginning at puberty and for the rest of his life, testosterone is essential for every man's health and wellness. The hormone influences body composition, affects psychological health, and enables sexual function. Healthy testosterone levels are vital for feeling and performing your best.
While hormones naturally decline when a man turns 30, the loss is usually small and gradual. Today, doctors are seeing more and more cases of low testosterone in young men. Unfortunately, many men are unaware of the signs and symptoms of low testosterone because they believe it only affects older individuals.
This article discusses the prevalence of low testosterone in young men, the common signs and symptoms, and treatment options. If something feels "off," it could be altered hormone levels. Familiarizing yourself with this common condition will help you spot and address hormone loss to regain your innate vitality.
What is Low Testosterone?
Low testosterone is a medical condition in which a man does not produce enough testosterone for biological processes. The hormone is generated in the testes and then enters the bloodstream, where it bonds to cells to perform various essential functions.
Doctors consider a testosterone level under 300 ng/dL to be low. While blood testing is necessary to determine your exact level, doctors also assess your symptoms and body changes when diagnosing the condition.
How Common is Low Testosterone for Young Men?
According to one recent report, 20% of men under 39 have testosterone deficiencies. The actual number could be even higher because younger men are less likely to see doctors and follow up on health issues.
Complicating diagnosis of the condition is the presentation of the disorder. While a rapid loss of testosterone may have apparent symptoms, slower declines that occur over months or years may be easy to ignore.
Testosterone can be low for many reasons, but the lack of availability of the hormone can negatively affect your health and life. It's especially critical for young men to monitor for low testosterone because the condition can be symptomatic of a more serious underlying health problem.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Young Men
For younger men, one hallmark sign of lower testosterone is a low sex drive. While interest in sex may diminish as you get older, absent sexual desire is abnormal. Loss of libido can strain relationships.
Erectile dysfunction (ED), in which erections are too soft or not long-lasting enough for sex, is another sign. Younger men will have fewer spontaneous erections and stop experiencing erections in the morning.
ED can compromise self-esteem, leading to feelings of depression and social withdrawal. These factors can elevate stress, exacerbating both ED and low testosterone.
Testosterone is also essential for sperm production. Low hormone levels can lead to infertility, a condition that is usually a more pressing issue for younger men than older individuals.
Hormones are also essential for body composition because they affect metabolism. Loss of testosterone can lead to increased belly fat, diminished muscle mass, and the development of breast tissue. These changes can occur despite consistent diet and exercise because testosterone is needed to regulate the body.
Younger men may also exhibit hair loss on their head and body due to low testosterone.
Causes of Low Testosterone in Young Men
Poor health and being overweight may be responsible for low testosterone in younger men. High cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and obesity all compromise testosterone production. Low testosterone in young men can be an early sign of diabetes and other chronic diseases.
Lifestyle choices are more likely to lower testosterone levels in young adults. Excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and marijuana use all diminish testosterone levels.
Beyond lifestyle, excessive endurance training and anabolic steroid use can affect the testes and compromise hormone production. In addition, a history of radiation or chemotherapy can also limit testicular function.
Endocrine disorders or tumors of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus may also lower testosterone levels. These conditions stop your brain from directing testosterone production. Underlying hormonal disorders require medical consultation to prevent further compromise or health problems.
Young men can also experience low testosterone due to testicular trauma. Sports and other physical activities can result in injuries that stop the testes from making testosterone.
In some cases, unmanaged stress, depression, and anxiety can alter hormone levels. Many young men overlook their mental health, believing they should ignore or work through their symptoms.
Low Testosterone Treatments
Low testosterone is easy to diagnose and treat in younger men. Your physician will order a routine blood exam and conduct a standard physical. They will also ask how you feel and the changes you've experienced. The test results and examination will help the provider determine the best treatment option.
In many cases, lifestyle modifications can correct low testosterone. Improving diet with lean proteins, nuts, fish, and leafy green vegetables will lead to weight loss, which boosts testosterone levels.
In addition, strength and interval training can naturally raise levels by helping build muscle mass, which initiates higher testosterone production.
Depending on the cause and extent of hormone loss, doctors may also recommend Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT). These treatments are common and have a long history of positive results.
You may undergo periodic testosterone injections that raise your levels and then wear off over several weeks. Doctors or nurses administer the shots at a set interval determined by your dose.
Physicians can also prescribe topical gels or patches that release testosterone into the bloodstream through your skin. These methods are reapplied daily and provide a consistent release of hormones that stabilizes your levels.
FAQ
What causes low testosterone in a 23-year-old male?
Every person is different, but lifestyle is most likely to cause low testosterone in 23-year-old males. Obesity resulting from a diet high in trans fats, sugar, and processed foods lowers testosterone. A lack of physical activity and low muscle mass will slow your body's testosterone production. Drug and alcohol use are also detrimental to hormone levels.
Fortunately, modifying your lifestyle with an improved diet and routine exercise can increase hormone production.
What causes testosterone levels to drop?
Testosterone levels drop due to obesity, chronic illness like diabetes and kidney disease, unhealthy lifestyle, depression, and anxiety. Unfortunately, the issue of low testosterone often worsens itself because lower levels of hormones contribute to obesity and mood changes, extending the cycle.
What is the number-one cause of low testosterone?
The number-one cause of low testosterone for young men is obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Poor diets featuring simple carbohydrates and unhealthy fats depress testosterone production and compromise overall health.
Muscles trigger increased testosterone production to fuel their growth. Lack of resistance exercise leads to lower muscle mass, which slows hormone production.
What happens if low testosterone goes untreated?
Prolonged low testosterone is detrimental to young men because it increases the chances of age-related conditions like heart disease. Chronically low testosterone can compromise bone health, increasing your risk of fractures as you age.
In addition, low testosterone increases obesity and diminishes muscle mass, which can further lower testosterone.
Can testosterone levels be fixed?
Yes. You can raise testosterone levels naturally by improving diet and adding muscle mass through resistance training. Doctors can also order a form of TRT to increase and stabilize low testosterone levels depending on the extent of testosterone loss and the nature of your symptoms.
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January 17, 2023
Written By
Jake Peter
Fact-checked By
Dr. Avidon Appel
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