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IF YOU’RE NOTICING that yourisn’t what it used to be, or that you’re struggling to , or that you're just , your testosterone levels could be to blame.can cause many symptoms, and several factors can contribute to a deficiency.
As a refresher, testosterone is the main male sex hormone that’s mainly produced in the testicles, according to the(AUA). Maintaining testosterone levels is crucial for many bodily functions: “Maintaining muscle mass, maintaining bone density, libido, proper sex function, keeping your motivation and drive, proper mood stabilization, and also even red blood cell production, which is something a lot of people don't think about,” says , anboard-certified physician in family medicine and neuromusculoskeletal medicine.
Sometimes, the body doesn’t produce enough , a condition known as hypogonadism. You're considered to have a testosterone deficiency or low testosterone (also known as low-T) when your levels are less than 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL), according to AUA; other guidelines consider it low at 264.
Low-T is more common as you age, but several other things can lower your testosterone, too.
“The prevalence of testosterone deficiency ranges anywhere from 2 percent to 10 percent of the population and represents approximately 16 million men in the United State alone,” says , assistant professor of urology at the ’s Men’s Health Center.
Here’s a look at some signs that your testosterone is low, factors that lower your testosterone, and what you should do if you think yours isn't where it should be.
Signs That Your Testosterone Is Low
When your testosterone is low, you might experience a variety of symptoms, according to AUA. These include:
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Low sex drive
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Erectile dysfunction
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Fatigue
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Irritability
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Reduced muscle mass
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Depression
These can be signs of other health conditions, as well. So, if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to talk to your doctor about how you’re feeling and get your concerns investigated as well as get your testosterone levels checked.
What Can Lower Your Testosterone
Low testosterone can be caused by many different factors—some you’re born with, and some are influenced by your lifestyle or changes to your health over time. Here are some of the most common causes of low-T:
Getting older
Low testosterone is a natural part of . Dr. Nall says men tend to hit their hormonal peak in their 30s. After 40, testosterone starts to drop. “Then, it takes a pretty big dive around age 50 and starts to go down,” he adds.
Total testosterone levels tend toabout 1.6 percent a year, and roughly 20 percent of men over 60 have levels that would qualify as low.
The reason for the drop is that aging can deteriorate , which keeps your hormones balanced, and may dim the number and responsiveness of cells in the testicles that are responsible for testosterone and sperm production.
It's also possible that levels don't drop in some men.from a while back found that testosterone levels might not decline in older men who are in good health.
Excess weight
Obesity and being overweight are linked to low testosterone. There are a few mechanisms at play, Dr. Patel says.
It’s thought that leptin, a hormone found in fat cells, inhibits testosterone production. Excess fat deposits also increase estradiol (an estrogen hormone), leptin, and adipokines (molecules produced by fat cells), which affect the pituitary gland that tells the testicles how much testosterone to make, he explains.
The relationship between weight and testosterone is a “vicious cycle,” Dr. Nall says. Low testosterone can cause fatigue and even depression, which likely decreases someone's urge to work out or generally stay active, which can affect weight.
Testicular problems
Since the testicles are the main producers of testosterone, any damage or condition affecting the organs can affect testosterone.
This can include having undescended testicles from early childhood that were never corrected or Klinefelter syndrome, an abnormality of sex chromosomes, according to the .
Infections or injuries to the testicles can cause hypogonadism, too.
Pituitary disorders
Problems with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, which are parts of the brain that tell the testicles to produce testosterone, can lower your levels of the hormone. This might include Kallmann’s syndrome, which is a brain development abnormality, or a pituitary disorder that might interfere with normal testosterone production, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Chronic health conditions
Some inflammatory diseases, like tuberculosis and sarcoidosis, as well as HIV and AIDS impact the hypothalamus and pituitary gland and can affect testosterone levels, according to the AUA. , such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, are also linked with testosterone deficiency.
Not getting enough sleep
Testosterone levels peak between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m. for men with traditional sleep patterns, Dr. Patel says. When you don’t get enough , a situation many Americans are chronically in, your testosterone levels can decline.
One smallof 10 healthy young men found that just one week of not getting enough sleep negatively affected testosterone levels. Getting just five hours of sleep a night decreased their T by 10 to 15 percent. Aim for of shut-eye a night.
What you eat
Acan help keep your testosterone levels in check and help prevent Low-T.
“I typically recommend my patients stick with a healthy, balanced diet avoiding saturated fats and processed sugars,” Dr. Patel says. “Eating a diet with high saturated fats and processed sugars can lead to caloric excess and weight gain that can lower testosterone.”
Apublished in the journal Nutrition and Health found that high-protein and low-carb diets decreased testosterone by 37 percent. A low-carb, moderate-protein diet didn’t show consistent effects on T levels.
Certain drugs and medications
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause testosterone deficiency.
Substance and drug abuse, such as alcohol, opioids, and anabolic-androgenic steroids, can affect testosterone production and interfere with testicular and hypothalamic-pituitary function,shows. Nicotine and amphetamines also affect T levels. But hypogonadism is usually reversible when you stop using these substances.
What to Do if You Think Your Testosterone Is Low
If you suspect that your testosterone is low, talk to your doctor about any symptoms that you’re having, Dr. Nall urges.
Your doctor will likely check your T levels, which involves two blood tests performed in the morning when testosterone levels are highest. Most doctors diagnose low testosterone based on these test results and your symptoms and often prescribe testosterone replacement therapy, Dr. Patel says.
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