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10 Effects Of Low Testosterone

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Testosterone is essential for the male body to grow and develop properly. Low testosterone is commonly referred to as male hypogonadism.

Low testosterone among males is a disorder in which a man’s body produces insufficient amounts of the hormone testosterone.

Low testosterone could start even before puberty or in adulthood. The condition’s symptoms and signs may vary depending on when they appear.

The external sex organs couldn’t develop properly if the body is not able to produce enough testosterone.

Low testosterone may be inherited or developed later in life, frequently as a result of infection or trauma.

Testosterone replacement treatment may be used to treat some forms of low testosterone.

The causes and the stage of your life at which low testosterone or male hypogonadism manifests itself would determine the repercussions and what you could do to combat them.

Today, we would be looking at the many effects associated with low testosterone.

Effects Of Low Testosterone

The following are some of the effects of low testosterone:

  1. Diminished Sex Drive

    Men’s sexual desire is primarily regulated by the hormone testosterone. Sexual interest may decline as a result of this hormone’s decline.

    In fact, testosterone levels in males have been discovered to start declining around the age of thirty.

    This also leads to psychological problems like worry and stress on their own.

    As a result, men in their thirties who already have low testosterone levels are more likely to exhibit lower testosterone symptoms, such as that[1] reduced libido.

    Additionally, poor sex drive could cause partners to go through unnecessary stress, which creates further tension for most men.

  2. Fatigue And Chronic Tiredness

    No matter how much sleep or rest a person gets, adrenal fatigue because of low testosterone levels will keep them feeling extremely exhausted.

    One of the most obvious symptoms of low testosterone might be a continual sense of exhaustion and lethargy.

    Low energy levels make it more challenging to manage daily duties and also strain oneself at an excessive rate to preserve relationships, productivity, and health.

    Your body could[2] experience extreme stress as a result, raising cortisol levels. Testosterone is one of the hormones that is impacted by elevated cortisol.

    Adrenal tiredness could result from prolonged cortisol overproduction, which would compromise the body’s ability to regulate hormones.

  3. Weight Gain

    Weight gain is common as testosterone levels decline because testosterone is crucial for maintaining your muscular mass.

    You could age gracefully and manage your weight by eating a varied diet and living a healthy lifestyle.

    Male metabolism, which is crucial to losing weight, is directly impacted by testosterone.

    The process of turning the calories you consume into energy is carried out by your metabolism.

    Your metabolism becomes less effective at converting excess energy into fat when your testosterone levels drop.

    The development of weight gain as a result of low testosterone is therefore common.

    However, specialized weight-loss programs that focus on problems caused by low testosterone could[3] be helpful if exercise and a healthy diet are ineffective in preventing weight gain.

  4. Decreasing Mental Health

    Low testosterone has effects on your body, mind, and overall sense of well-being. Fatigue, irritability, confusion, and depression are well-known symptoms of low testosterone.

    Everything could[4] go out of balance as a result of hormonal imbalance.

    The brain receives only a portion of the signals it requires to operate at its best when testosterone levels are insufficient.

    Low testosterone may impair your energy and sleep levels in addition to making you feel down overall.

    Regardless of how much sleep you get, your mental health never seems to feel fully restored.

  5. Difficulties Sleeping

    Regardless of whether they have normal testosterone levels, a majority of men struggle to achieve the recommended eight hours of sleep each night.

    Therefore, it’s common to suffer from sleep issues significantly more when you add a low testosterone problem to your already existing sleep insufficiency problem.

    Talk to your doctor about getting tested for low testosterone if you struggle to remain or fall asleep despite maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

    Sleep apnea is a common complication of low testosterone among males and could[5] worsen the situation.

  6. Low Energy Levels

    The hormone testosterone is crucial for maintaining your energy levels throughout the entire day since the male brain is coated in receptors of testosterone.

    Lower energy levels are one of the more subtly manifested side effects of low testosterone.

    Your brain needs to work more slowly and harder when it is deficient in the chemicals and hormones it needs to function properly.

    You could start experiencing lesser energy and motivation as a result. It could[6] be frustrating to find it difficult to exercise as a result of poor stamina and fatigue.

    You may experience significant gains in your energy levels by simply supplementing the natural levels of testosterone in your body with testosterone therapy.

    You’ll feel more like yourself once again and less like a lazy bone.

  7. Problems Maintaining Or Obtaining An Erection

    Having trouble keeping or attaining an erection is one of the most common symptoms of low testosterone.

    One of the primary compounds that trigger the chemical process resulting in an erection is nitric oxide.

    Although testosterone levels are not the primary cause of erections, the hormone does operate to activate brain receptors that create nitric oxide, which is essential for maintaining and achieving erections.

    When a man has low testosterone, the chemical reaction is inhibited, making it harder to have an erection.

    It’s critical to comprehend the complete chemical process underlying erections before turning to supplements.

    Erections do not depend only on testosterone to function. A number of health conditions may[7] also affect your ability to sustain or achieve an erection.

    Do not immediately turn to testosterone supplements if you’re having trouble keeping or achieving an erection.

    Once the root problem has been identified, discuss testosterone therapy options with your doctor.

  8. Changes In Appearance

    Not merely because it is present in greater quantities in men, testosterone is generally referred to as the masculine hormone.

    Increased testosterone production results in stronger muscles, while lower testosterone has the exact opposite effect.

    Low testosterone causes a rise in body fat, especially around the breasts. In addition, hair loss could[8]also result from a low testosterone count.

  9. Reduction In Muscle Mass

    Not only bodybuilders require muscle. Muscle is needed by every man as it assists the body by increasing Basal Metabolic Rate, defending against sickness, and reducing inflammation.

    It could be difficult for hypogonadal or low testosterone males to gain muscle mass because[9] testosterone greatly contributes to muscular growth.

    Low amounts of testosterone have the reverse effect on muscle growth, which is speeding up the rate at which muscle turns into fat.

  10. Brain Fog

    One of the biggest adverse effects of low testosterone could be attributed to brain fog. Before you lose it, you won’t even understand what mental clarity is.

    Poor focus makes it impossible to complete cognitively demanding tasks. Your professional and personal lives might consequently start to suffer.

Conclusion

It is important to remember that lower testosterone’s negative effects should not be ignored as simply inevitable aging effects.

Low testosterone may have major health consequences if it is not treated. Low testosterone is often linked to impaired physical function and also an increased risk of death.

Low testosterone might seriously harm you. It diminishes your desire for sexual activity and also interferes with your ability to erect.

You may lose muscle mass and strength as a result of low testosterone. Additionally, you could notice that you’re losing your focus and putting on weight.

All of this occurs because testosterone is a hormone that is very much essential to a man’s overall health and well-being.

It is usual for it to occasionally fall below the normal levels for a variety of reasons. Fortunately, various treatments work to help you rediscover your groove.

Therefore, if you are experiencing symptoms of low testosterone and are worried about how they might affect your life, act immediately and consult your doctor.

References/Sources

Working4Health prefers using primary and verified references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and our primary references include peer-reviewed research, academic, and medical institution studies.
 
  1. Jordan Cohen,Daniel E. Nassau,Premal Patel,et al. Low Testosterone in Adolescents & Young Adults Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019; 10: 916.Published online 2020 Jan 10. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00916
  2. Kaye K. Brownlee,Alex W. Moore and Anthony C. Hackney Relationship Between Circulating Cortisol and Testosterone: Influence of Physical Exercise J Sports Sci Med. 2005 Mar; 4(1): 76–83.Published online 2005 Mar 1.
  3. D M Kelly,T H Jones Testosterone and obesity Review Obes Rev. 2015 Jul;16(7):581-606. doi: 10.1111/obr.12282. Epub 2015 May 15. Available from:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25982085/
  4. Peter Celec,Daniela Ostatníková,and Július Hodosy On the effects of testosterone on brain behavioral functions Front Neurosci. 2015; 9: 12.Published online 2015 Feb 17. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00012
  5. Sung-Dong Kim and Kyu-Sup Cho Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Testosterone Deficiency World J Mens Health. 2019 Jan; 37(1): 12–18.Published online 2018 May 16. doi: 10.5534/wjmh.180017
  6. Ana Marcella Rivas,Zachary Mulkey,Joaquin Lado-Abeal,et al. Diagnosing and managing low serum testosterone Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2014 Oct; 27(4): 321–324.doi: 10.1080/08998280.2014.11929145
  7. Jacob Rajfer Relationship Between Testosterone and Erectile Dysfunction Rev Urol. 2000 Spring; 2(2): 122–128.
  8. Mark Ng Tang Fui,Philippe Dupuis,and Mathis Grossmann Lowered testosterone in male obesity: mechanisms, morbidity and management Asian J Androl. 2014 Mar-Apr; 16(2): 223–231.Published online 2014 Jan 20. doi: 10.4103/1008-682X.122365
  9. Myung Jun Shin,Yun Kyung Jeon,and In Joo Kim Testosterone and Sarcopenia World J Mens Health. 2018 Sep; 36(3): 192–198.
    Published online 2018 May 11. doi: 10.5534/wjmh.180001

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