From the Guidelines
Low testosterone can cause a range of symptoms that affect both physical and mental health, including decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, reduced semen volume, hair loss, fatigue, loss of muscle mass, increased body fat, decreased bone density, mood changes, difficulty concentrating, and hot flashes, as well as sleep disturbances, reduced testicle size, and anemia, as noted in studies such as 1 and 1.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone
Some common symptoms of low testosterone include:
- Decreased sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction
- Reduced semen volume
- Hair loss
- Fatigue
- Loss of muscle mass
- Increased body fat, especially around the abdomen
- Decreased bone density
- Mood changes, including depression and irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Hot flashes
- Sleep disturbances
- Reduced testicle size
- Anemia These symptoms occur because testosterone plays crucial roles in regulating sexual function, muscle and bone development, fat distribution, and mood, as discussed in 1 and 1.
Development of Symptoms
Symptoms typically develop gradually as testosterone levels decline with age (after 30, men lose about 1% of testosterone annually) or due to other causes like chronic illness, medications, or pituitary gland problems, as mentioned in 1 and 1.
Importance of Consulting a Healthcare Provider
If experiencing multiple symptoms, it's essential to consult a healthcare provider who can order blood tests to check testosterone levels and determine appropriate treatment, which might include lifestyle changes, testosterone replacement therapy, or addressing underlying conditions, as recommended in 1 and 1.
Recent Guidelines
Recent guidelines, such as those from the American College of Physicians, suggest that clinicians should consider screening for low testosterone in men with symptoms or signs of hypogonadism, such as decreased sexual desire or activity, or erectile dysfunction, as stated in 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Male hypogonadism, a clinical syndrome resulting from insufficient secretion of testosterone, has two main etiologies. The effects include the growth and maturation of prostate, seminal vesicles, penis and scrotum; the development of male hair distribution, such as facial, pubic, chest and axillary hair; laryngeal enlargement; vocal chord thickening; and alterations in body musculature and fat distribution. Testosterone and DHT are necessary for the normal development of secondary sex characteristics
The symptoms of low testosterone include:
- Insufficient growth and maturation of male sex organs
- Lack of development of secondary sex characteristics, such as:
- Male hair distribution (facial, pubic, chest, and axillary hair)
- Laryngeal enlargement
- Vocal chord thickening
- Alterations in body musculature and fat distribution These symptoms are associated with male hypogonadism, a clinical syndrome resulting from insufficient secretion of testosterone 2
From the Research
Symptoms of Low Testosterone
- Diminished sexual desire and erectile quality, particularly in nocturnal erections 3
- Changes in mood with concomitant decreases in intellectual activity and spatial orientation 3
- Fatigue, depression and anger 3
- Decrease in lean body mass with associated decreases in muscle volume and strength 3
- Decrease in body hair and skin alterations 3
- Decreased bone mineral density resulting in osteoporosis 3
- Hypogonadal symptoms, such as low libido 4
- Erectile dysfunction 5
- Decreased sexual activity 4
- Metabolic syndrome, characterized by central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension 3
Effects of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Symptoms
- Improvement in sexual function, depressive symptoms, bone density, and lean body mass 6
- Improvement in hypogonadal symptoms, libido, and sexual desire 4
- No significant improvement in erectile function 4, 5
- Potential decrease in insulin resistance and improvement in metabolic syndrome 3
- Potential improvement in cardiovascular outcomes, although evidence is conflicting 6, 7