Low Testosterone Levels in Men

Low testosterone levels can affect your libido and cause physical changes, sleep issues, and trouble with emotional regulation. Treatment can increase testosterone levels or treat symptoms. Testosterone is a hormone found in humans. Men have much higher levels of testosterone than women. Production increases during puberty and starts to decrease after age 30. For each year over age 30, the level of testosterone in men starts to slowly dip at a rate of around 1 percent per year. A decrease in testosterone level is a natural result of aging. Testosterone helps maintain a number of important bodily functions in men, including: • sex drive • sperm production • muscle mass/strength • fat distribution • bone density • red blood cell production Because testosterone affects so many functions, its decrease can bring about significant physical and emotional changes. Sexual function Testosterone is the hormone most responsible for sex drives and high libidos in men. A decrease in testosterone can mean a decrease in libido. One of the biggest worries faced by men with declining testosterone levels is the chance that their sexual desire and performance will be affected. As men age, they can experience a number of symptoms related to sexual function that may be a result of lowered levels of this hormone. These include: • reduced desire for sex • fewer erections that happen spontaneously, such as during sleep infertility Erectile dysfunction (ED) is not commonly caused by low testosterone production. In cases where ED accompanies lower testosterone production, hormone replacement therapy may help your ED. These side effects typically don’t happen suddenly. If they do, lower testosterone levels may not be the only cause. Physical changes A number of physical changes can happen to your body if you have low testosterone levels. Testosterone is sometimes referred to as the “male” hormone. It helps increase muscle mass, leads to body hair, and contributes to an overall masculine form. Decreases in testosterone can lead to physical changes including the following: • increased body fat • decreased strength/mass of muscles • fragile bones • decreased body hair • swelling/tenderness in the breast tissue • hot flashes • increased fatigue • effects on cholesterol metabolism • Sleep disturbances • Low testosterone can cause lower energy levels, insomnia and other changes in your sleep patterns. Testosterone replacement therapy may contribute to or cause sleep apnoea. Sleep apnoea is a serious medical condition that causes your breathing to stop and start repeatedly while you sleep. It can disrupt your sleep pattern in the process and raise your risk for other complications, like having a stroke. On the other hand, changes in the body that occur as a result of sleep apnoea can lead to low testosterone levels Trusted Source. Even if you don’t have sleep apnoea, low testosterone can still contribute to a decrease in the hours of sleep. Researchers aren’t yet sure why this happens. Emotional changes In addition to causing physical changes, having low levels of testosterone can affect you on an emotional level. The condition can lead to feelings of sadness or depression. Some people have trouble with memory and concentration and experience lowered motivation and self-confidence. Testosterone is a hormone that affects emotional regulation. Depression has been linked to men with low testosterone. This could result from a combination of the irritability, decreased sex drive, and fatigue that can come with low testosterone. Testosterone therapy Testosterone therapy can be delivered in several ways: • injections into the muscle every few weeks • patches or gels applied to the skin • a patch that is applied inside the mouth • pellets that are inserted under the skin of the buttocks Losing weight and being physically active Exercising more and losing weight can help slow the decrease of testosterone your body is experiencing. Erectile dysfunction medication If your most concerning symptom from lower testosterone is erectile dysfunction, erectile dysfunction medications may help.