14 Signs Of Low Testosterone: Symptoms To Pay Attention On

by Paul M. Tyson [MD]
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Low testosterone or male hypogonadism is a condition in which the male reproductive glands, known as the testes become incapable of producing adequate testosterone levels, which is a male sex hormone.

Testosterone aids in the development and maintenance of:

  • Muscle mass.
  • Sexual features.
  • Bone density.
  • Adequate levels of red blood cells.
  • Reproductive and sexual function.
  • Sense of well-being.

Nearly 35% of males aged 40 and up suffer from low testosterone levels. The level of normal testosterone is quite difficult to define as they often fluctuate during the day. 

They are also influenced by factors, such as certain medications, alcohol intake, age, sickness, BMI, and nutrition.

Signs Of Low Testosterone

  1. Low Sex Drive

    In men, testosterone level is important for sex drive (libido). As males turn older, they might notice a decrease in their urge for sex.

    A person with having low testosterone level will more likely feel a significant decrease in their desire of having sex.

  2. Low Semen Volume

    Testosterone usually aids in the mobility of sperm. This is done by assisting in the formation of semen, which is a milky fluid. 

    During ejaculation, men having low testosterone will often feel a decrease in the volume of their sperm.

  3. Loss of hair

    Testosterone is involved in several bodily functions, which include hair growth. For most men, balding has become an inevitable aspect of turning older. 

    While baldness might be the result of an inherited component, males with low testosterone levels might suffer from hair loss.

  4. Having A Hard Time Getting An Erection

    Testosterone aids in obtaining an erection and keeping it. It also helps in boosting a man’s sexual drive.

    Testosterone usually does not generate an erection on its own. It rather increases nitric oxide production by brain receptors.

    Nitric oxide is a molecule aiding in the initiation of a sequence of chemical events which leads to an erection.

    A man’s testosterone level could be too low for achieving an erection before intercourse and also to have spontaneous erections during sleep.

    However, testosterone level is only one of several elements which contribute to good erections. 

    The benefit of testosterone replacement therapy for the treatment of erectile dysfunction is often unclear.

    Nearly half of the research that observed the benefit of testosterone level in males having erection problems revealed no improvement with testosterone treatment.

    Different health issues frequently have a part in erectile dysfunction. These might include the following:

    • Stress.
    • Diabetes.
    • High blood pressure.
    • Thyroid problems.
    • High cholesterol.
    • Alcohol use.
    • Smoking.
    • Anxiety.
    • Depression.

  5. Fatigue

    Men having low testosterone levels have complained of a loss of vitality and acute weariness. 

    If you are weary most of the time despite having plenty of sleep or cannot seem to be inspired to exercise, you might have low testosterone levels.

  6. Muscle Mass Loss

    As testosterone is involved in muscle growth, men having low testosterone levels might experience a reduction in muscular mass.

    Testosterone influences muscular mass. It does not necessarily influence the function or strength of muscle, according to sources.

  7. Increased Body Fat

    Low testosterone levels could lead to a bodily fat increase in men. They become prone to developing enlarged breast tissue, or gynecomastia.

    This effect is usually caused by an estrogen and testosterone imbalance that occurs in men as they turn older.

  8. Reduced Bone Mass

    Bone weakening or osteoporosis is a disorder that is mostly associated with women. Men having low testosterone levels might also undergo bone loss.

    Testosterone aids in the strengthening and formation of bone. Therefore, men having low testosterone levels, particularly older men, are more prone to fractures and have less bone volume.

  9. Mood Swings

    Men having low testosterone levels could have mood swings. As testosterone affects several bodily functions, it might also affect mental capabilities and mood.

    According to researchers, males having low testosterone levels are more prone to have a lack of attention, melancholy, and irritation.

  10. Memory Problems

    When you age, cognitive skills, such as memory decline. Therefore, researchers believe that decreased testosterone could have a role in memory loss.

    Some research studies have discovered that testosterone supplementation helps in enhancing memory in men having low testosterone levels.

    However, improvements in memory were not shown in a research of 495 men with quite low testosterone levels those who were given a placebo or testosterone.

  11. Smaller Testicles

    As testosterone is required for the testicles and penis development, lower testosterone levels in your body might lead to testicles that are smaller than normal testicles.

    Low testosterone levels might also result in testicles or penis which are disproportionately smaller than those of a man having normal testosterone levels.

  12. Blood Counts Are Low

    According to researchers, low testosterone levels are often connected to an increased risk of anemia.

    Researchers found that when anemic men having low testosterone levels were given testosterone gel, those men’s blood counts improved in comparison to men who were given a placebo gel.

    Anemia might produce a lot of symptoms, such as sleeping issues, difficulty concentrating, a fast heart rate, leg cramps, and dizziness.

  13. Sleeping Problems

    Lower testosterone levels could make it difficult to remain asleep. Men having sleep apnea often are found to have low testosterone.

    This life-threatening illness might cause a person to cease breathing for a very short period, which might disrupt their sleep.

  14. Changes In Emotions

    Lower testosterone is often linked to a lack of sadness, focus, and anger, according to some researchers.

    Testosterone replacement therapy dramatically improves the general quality of life and depression in men having low testosterone levels, according to sources.

What Causes Low Testosterone?

A low testosterone level is diagnosed via a blood test which measures the blood level of testosterone in an individual.

As testosterone fluctuates throughout the day, it might take many measurements for determining if a patient has a low testosterone level.

In the morning, at about 8:30 am, testosterone is at its maximum levels. This is why doctors prefer taking testosterone measurements in the morning.

The quantity of testosterone level in a man’s body often decreases as he turns older. This is a natural decrease that occurs at the age of 30-35.

This declination of testosterone continues at a rate of around 1.5% each year during the rest of a man’s life.

Low testosterone might be caused by a lot of factors, including the following:

  • Chemotherapy.
  • A metabolic condition of too much iron in the body, known as Hemochromatosis.
  • Infection of the testes, known as orchitis or injury to the testes (interruption of blood flow, trauma).
  • Cancers and pituitary gland dysfunction.
  • Illness which is short term (acute) or long term (chronic).
  • Medications, such as opioid hormones used to treat prostate cancer, and steroids, such as prednisone.

Conclusion

Women have a fast decline in hormone levels during menopause. However, men’s testosterone levels diminish over time.

The older a man turns, the more probable he becomes to have low testosterone levels. Low testosterone symptoms might occur in men having testosterone levels below 350 ng/dL.

Your doctor might do a blood test and, if necessary, will prescribe therapy. They might also talk about the pros and cons of testosterone therapy.