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Testosterone is one of the most important hormones in our body. In males, it has a wide range of functions, from developing physical masculine traits to regulating mood and boosting libido. In women, testosterone also plays a role in libido, but also on bone and ovary health. Men produce a much larger amount of testosterone in comparison to women, so lower levels of the hormone have a greater impact on men's health and well-being.
In this gallery, we explore what happens when testosterone levels are low and how this may manifest through symptoms. Click on to learn all about low-T.
Low testosterone, also known as male hypogonadism, testosterone deficiency syndrome, or simply low-T, is when testosterone levels are below a certain level.
These levels vary, depending on the country’s guidelines. The spectrum is quite wide, and what is considered "normal" levels is arguable. In the US, for instance, anything below 300 nanograms of testosterone per deciliter of blood is considered low.
Male hypogonadism can be primary (testes don’t produce enough testosterone) or secondary (the hypothalamus or pituitary gland doesn’t secrete the hormones to stimulate the testes to produce testosterone). Both cases can be caused by a wide variety of issues, from genetic problems to trauma and lifestyle.
Hypogonadism doesn’t always comes with symptoms, but when it does, they can have an impact on a person’s overall health and well-being.
As men grow older, Leydig cells, which are responsible for producing testosterone in the testes, start losing sensitivity, decreasing in number, and some get damaged over time. This will lead to a natural decline in the hormone’s level.
Between ages 40 and 70, men can experience a decrease of up to 40% in some cases. Now, let’s take a look at some of the signs of low-T.
Low libido is one of the signs that testosterone levels might be a bit low. This not only applies to being intimate with a partner but interest in intimacy in general. Basically, not responding the same way you would to things that used to stimulate you.
Of course, other factors such as stress, anxiety, depression, or simply fatigue can also contribute to periods of lower drive. But if you experience an unexpected decrease in libido, then your testosterone levels may have something to do with it.
Having fewer erections or not being able to sustain one may be a sign of low-T. Males have erections in a variety of contexts, not only when they are stimulated, and a decrease in frequency is a warning sign.
Usually though, testosterone levels must be really low to directly cause erectile dysfunction. Other potential problems, such as atherosclerosis and mental health issues, must be ruled out as well. Still, it is a possibility.
On average, men ejaculate between 1.5 and 4.5 milliliters of semen each time. It should be taken into account that ejaculate volume varies, according to age and frequency of intimate activity, but a significant drop may be a sign that the prostate gland and seminal vesicles are not working properly. These are responsible for semen production, which is directly impacted by low testosterone levels.
Men can develop a condition known as gynecomastia, where breast tissue actually grows. Low testosterone, and consequently a higher-than-normal level of the female hormone estrogen, can be the culprit.
Male breasts can affect men at any age, but as they grow older, or when their testosterone levels drop for other reasons, they become more susceptible to it. Men can also suffer from pseudo-gynecomastia, which is an accumulation of fat in the area (which may also be linked to low-T levels).
An increase in body fat and experiencing difficulty in losing it can also be a sign of low-T. Low testosterone also reduces the motivation to work out, so it’s a vicious circle.
But the vicious cycle goes even further. Men with high levels of body fat have low testosterone because their testosterone is converted into estrogen in fat cells. So, more fat, more estrogen. Estrogen, in turn, decreases the production of testosterone, which triggers even more weight gain.
Mood changes can be a sign of low testosterone. Testosterone helps to regulate behavior and stabilize mood, decreases anxiety and fear, and makes men perform better under stress. Low levels of it can affect their mood.
Men with low-T can experience fatigue, lack of motivation, apathy, lack of focus, anxiety, and even depression. This is likely where the stereotype of "grumpy old man" comes from.
Fatigue is a big one when it comes to the effects of low-T. Feeling constantly drained may have other causes, but low testosterone can indeed be the culprit. Healthy levels of testosterone actually motivates men to perform physical activities.
Together with weight gain, low testosterone levels also contribute to a decrease in muscle mass and bone density. In short, it makes men weaker and more frail. This usually happens over time, but can have a huge impact on quality of life.
You’ve probably heard many senior men saying that they have trouble sleeping. But younger men can have it, too, especially if their testosterone levels are low. Waking up frequently during the night and insomnia in general can be signs of low-T.
Sleep is of utmost importance for optimal testosterone production, and vice versa. Testosterone actually reaches its peak during the night. Interrupted sleep can be a side effect of the stress hormone cortisol, which is known to reduce blood testosterone levels.
Hot flashes are most commonly associated with menopausal women, because they experience a steeper and more sudden dip in estrogen levels. This, however, can also happen to men who experience a sharp decrease in testosterone levels.
Men who are subject to androgen replacement therapy for prostate cancer can experience similar hot flashes. Similarly, night sweats have also been linked to low-T levels.
While most men will experience issues with low testosterone later in life, many also experience it at a young age. Hypogonadism in boys can manifest through the development of enlarged breasts (gynecomastia) and abnormally long arms and legs.
Delayed puberty can also be a symptom. An affected boy may have underdeveloped organs, retain a high-pitched voice, and have poor muscle development for his age.
Low testosterone can also cause undescended testes (cryptorchidism) as well as the absence of body hair. The causes of low-T in children vary. A number of conditions that affect the testicles, the pituitary gland, and the hypothalamus can be to blame.
While most of us tend to associate testosterone with men, women also have testosterone in their bodies (in the same way males have estrogen). In fact, this is the main hormone responsible for libido in females, as well as playing a role in bone and ovary health.
In females, testosterone is produced by the ovaries and the adrenal glands. Women produce 10 to 20 times less testosterone than men, but they are also affected by high and low levels of the hormone.
Too much testosterone in women can indeed cause a number of issues, including acne, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and excessive hair growth.
Low-T in women can manifest through low libido, irregular periods, vaginal dryness, fertility problems, and also plays a role in the development of osteoporosis.
While most women do not undergo treatment for low testosterone, male hypogonadism, due to its more severe symptoms, can sometimes be treated.
Treatment will depend on the root cause of low testosterone levels, which should be discussed with a qualified medical professional. Lifestyle changes, and sometimes testosterone replacement therapy (or testosterone optimization), may be prescribed.
Sources: (Health Digest) (Medical News Today) (WebMD) (Healthline) (Everyday Health)
Signs that you may have low testosterone (even if you are a woman)
Low-T can affect anyone at any age
HEALTH Hormones
Testosterone is one of the most important hormones in our body. In males, it has a wide range of functions, from developing physical masculine traits to regulating mood and boosting libido. In women, testosterone also plays a role in libido, but also on bone and ovary health. Men produce a much larger amount of testosterone in comparison to women, so lower levels of the hormone have a greater impact on men's health and well-being.
In this gallery, we explore what happens when testosterone levels are low and how this may manifest through symptoms. Click on to learn all about low-T.