Low testosterone in men is the cause of many unpleasant effects, which largely aim to “kill” the man within him.
The situation is not hopeless; it can be fought. But first, it is necessary to ensure that the problem is indeed with testosterone.
In this material, we have gathered 10 symptoms of testosterone deficiency in men.
Main thoughts:
Functions of testosterone in the male body
Testosterone is perhaps the most well-known hormone to the general public, produced in the bodies of men (and women).
Men have a much higher level of it than women. In their bodies, it is produced in the testes and is responsible for male appearance (growth of muscle mass and hair in appropriate places, strengthening of bones) and for sexual development (sperm production, sexual desire, etc.).
In the male body, testosterone determines the following functions:
- sexual (libido, erection, sperm production);
- growth and maintenance of muscle mass;
- ratio of fat to muscle mass;
- bone density;
- production of red blood cells.
If we take these functions with negative signs, we get a picture of what will happen with testosterone deficiency. Overall, it is unpleasant both physically and emotionally.
Causes of low testosterone in men
There are several factors that influence the decrease of testosterone in men.
Age
The production of testosterone in the body increases during puberty, but after the age of 30, it begins to gradually decline: approximately 1% each year.
According to the American Urological Association, about 2 out of 10 men at the age of 60 have low testosterone 1.
Ecology and Medications
The level of testosterone in middle-aged men may be negatively affected by ecology, which scientists have been increasingly discussing lately.
It is well known that certain chemicals (such as the herbicide Roundup) used today in agriculture to combat weeds can suppress the natural production of testosterone when they enter the body 7.
Medications
Some medications also lead to a decrease in testosterone production in men. This particularly concerns drugs for lowering blood cholesterol 8.
Lifestyle
As is known, natural factors that stimulate testosterone production include sleep, physical exercise, a healthy diet, and the absence of bad habits.
It is an obvious fact that all of these are often neglected by the majority of humanity and even by many athletes today.
Mark Twain once eloquently expressed this position: “The only way to be healthy is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you don’t want to do.“
Low testosterone levels can be a result of age (gradually decreasing after 30), poor ecology, medication use, and an unhealthy lifestyle.
Next, we will discuss the symptoms of testosterone deficiency, what it means for men, how dangerous it is, and whether anything can be done about it.
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Normal Testosterone Levels in Men
First, let’s determine the normal testosterone levels for men, so as not to panic or self-diagnose unnecessarily.
A testosterone level of less than 300 ng/dL (0.3 mcg/dL) is considered low (according to the FDA – the U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
The normal testosterone level in men is 300 – 1000 ng/dL (0.3 – 1 mcg/dL).
The exact value can be established through a blood test.
Symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency in Men
1 Decreased Sexual Desire
Perhaps the biggest problem that men face when testosterone levels drop is the deterioration of sexual quality of life.
Testosterone and sex are inseparable. It plays a key role in libido (sexual desire) in men. Symptoms of its deficiency may include:
- decreased desire for sex;
- erectile dysfunction;
- reduced semen volume.
These three factors together affect the quality of sex. The disruption of any one of them will make sexual intercourse impossible.
Many men experience a natural decrease in sexual desire as they age. However, those with low testosterone for other reasons will also experience a sharp decline in sexual desire.
Contrary to popular belief, erectile dysfunction (when it “doesn’t stand up”) is generally not related to a lack of testosterone.
One of the most unpleasant symptoms of low testosterone for men is decreased sexual desire.
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2 Difficulties with Erection (When It “Doesn’t Stand Up”)
Testosterone not only stimulates a man’s sexual desire but also helps achieve and maintain an erection: it does not cause an erection by itself but activates certain receptors in the brain for the production of nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide is involved in the chemical reactions necessary for an erection to occur.
As is known, in bodybuilding, nitric oxide-based supplements are used to dilate blood vessels and fill them with blood. An erection is the result of the penis filling with blood.
When testosterone levels are too low, a man may have difficulty achieving an erection before sex or may have spontaneous erections (for example, during sleep).
However, testosterone is just one of many factors that contribute to a normal erection.
Research does not allow for a definitive conclusion that testosterone hormone therapy is effective in treating erectile dysfunction: in about half of the experiments, it turned out to be ineffective 2.
Many other causes can lead to erectile dysfunction. Among them:
- diabetes;
- thyroid problems;
- high blood pressure;
- high cholesterol levels;
- smoking;
- alcohol consumption;
- depression;
- stress;
- anxiety.
Low testosterone can affect erection, but it is far from always the cause of its impairment. Hormonal testosterone therapy is only effective in 50% of cases in treating it.
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3 Decreased sperm volume
Testosterone plays a role in sperm production.
Men with low testosterone often report a decrease in sperm volume during ejaculation.
4 Hair loss
Another function of testosterone in the body is the creation of body hair.
While genetics are often the cause of hair loss, it can also be a result of low testosterone.
Hair can be lost on the face (beard does not grow or is sparse) and on the head (baldness).
5 Fatigue
The next symptom of low testosterone in men is a very strong feeling of fatigue.
Chronic fatigue even after sufficient rest or lack of motivation to go to training are likely consequences of decreased testosterone.
6 Loss of muscle mass
A deficiency of testosterone leads to unpleasant physical transformations.
This hormone is often referred to as “male,” as it is responsible for the growth of muscle mass and strength, the appearance of hair in typical male body areas, and overall, for the formation of male body constitution.
Research clearly indicates that testosterone determines the growth of muscle mass (but not necessarily muscle strength) 3. See Anabolic steroids for muscle mass gain: what are they and how do they work?
Loss of muscle mass is one of the most unpleasant symptoms of decreased testosterone for men and athletes, especially when it is accompanied by an increase in “belly” and female breast tissue.
This explains the virtually complete sad absence of lean elderly men with athletic builds in our society.
Decreased testosterone manifests in a worsening ratio of muscle mass to fat in the body: muscles disappear, fat deposits grow.
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7 Increased fat deposits
An increase in body fat percentage is another unpleasant symptom of decreased testosterone in men. It manifests, in particular, in the development of gynecomastia – the growth of “female” breasts.
Scientists believe that this occurs due to an imbalance between testosterone and estrogen (the female sex hormone).
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8 Decrease in bone mass
Osteoporosis or thinning of the bones is a condition more characteristic of women. However, a lack of testosterone in men can have a similar effect, as this hormone is involved in the production and strengthening of bones.
A decrease in testosterone levels in men, especially the elderly, leads to a reduction in bone mass and a greater predisposition to fractures.
9 Sleep quality disturbances
In addition to low testosterone being responsible for decreased energy, it can also lead to insomnia.
Testosterone replacement therapy in this case does not help and may, on the contrary, lead to the development of shortness of breath during sleep (apnea) (periodic cessation and resumption of breathing). This greatly affects sleep quality 5.
Sleep disturbances, in turn, lead to an even greater decrease in the natural level of testosterone 6.
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10 Mood swings
The impact of low testosterone is not limited to muscle mass and sexual function. It affects emotional state (mood) and mental activity.
Studies show that men with low testosterone more frequently experience depression, irritability, or inability to concentrate, along with decreased motivation and self-confidence 4.
A possible reason for this is the distortion of two of the most important aspects for every man (lack of sexual desire, turning into an unattractive fat creature), which leads to persistent depression.
Men with low testosterone more often experience depression, irritability, decreased motivation, concentration, and self-confidence
The symptoms of testosterone deficiency listed above may be… the result of dangerous diseases
The symptoms listed above can be a result of testosterone deficiency, natural aging processes, or signs of certain diseases:
- thyroid disease;
- testicular damage;
- testicular cancer;
- infectious diseases;
- HIV;
- type 2 diabetes;
- side effects of medications;
- alcohol consumption;
- genetic anomalies affecting the testicles;
- pituitary problems.
Only a doctor can understand the true cause.
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What to Do If Testosterone Is Low?
Regardless of the cause of low testosterone, the situation is not hopeless. There are several ways (legal and illegal) to increase it and eliminate unpleasant effects.
1 Testosterone Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy refers to the introduction of additional doses of testosterone into the body to artificially adjust its level.
There are several methods for administering testosterone:
- injections;
- tablets;
- gels;
- patches (a piece of fabric applied to the skin or inside the mouth);
- granules (inserted under the skin of the buttocks).
In the world of sports and bodybuilding, athletes use anabolic steroids and testosterone boosters to increase its level. However, it is noteworthy that athletes are actually not at risk of low testosterone.
Sports testosterone enhancement supplements (boosters), as well as some natural products with a similar function, are much safer for health than steroids.
The use of steroids can be accompanied by serious side effects, sometimes irreversible.
Doctors do not recommend testosterone therapy for those at high risk of prostate cancer.
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3 Reducing Body Fat and Physical Activity
Physical activity and weight normalization are natural factors for increasing or preventing a decrease in testosterone levels.
3 Taking Sleeping Pills to Improve Sleep Quality
Sleeping pills can make sleep more restful, which normalizes testosterone levels. Physical activity from the previous point is also known to contribute to deeper sleep.
The level of testosterone can be increased with relatively safe testosterone boosters, anabolic steroids (not recommended by doctors due to the high risk of harm to health), and proper lifestyle habits.
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Conclusion
Unlike women, whose hormone levels drop sharply during menopause, men experience a gradual decline in the main male hormone – testosterone.
The older a man gets, the higher the likelihood that his testosterone levels are below normal.
Low testosterone levels in men (below 300 ng/dl) manifest in many unpleasant symptoms.
Testosterone levels can be increased through safe natural methods (using certain natural products or sports nutrition supplements) or drastically, through anabolic steroids with the risk of serious side effects.
Do not attempt to diagnose and treat yourself. Stay in touch with doctors. To identify the problem, it is enough to simply take a blood test for testosterone. In addition, the doctor will be able to determine the true cause of its decline… in some cases, it may be a dangerous disease.
