Low testosterone levels can affect your interest in sex and lead to physical changes, sleep challenges, and emotional dysregulation. Medical intervention can increase testosterone levels or help you manage specific symptoms.

Low male testosterone is clinically known as male hypogonadism. It can be congenital or a result of different conditions and lifestyles.

Testosterone production naturally increases during puberty but then starts to decrease after age 30. For each year over age 30, the level of testosterone starts to dip slowly at a rate of around 1% per year. A decrease in testosterone levels is a natural result of aging.

Testosterone helps maintain a number of important bodily functions, including:

Because testosterone affects so many functions, its decrease can bring about significant physical and emotional changes.

Here are some of the most common effects of low testosterone.

Testosterone is the sex hormone most responsible for the male sex drive and libido. A decrease in testosterone can mean a decrease in libido. One of the biggest worries about declining testosterone levels is the chance that sexual desire and performance will be affected.

As someone ages, they can experience a number of symptoms related to sexual function that may be a result of lowered levels of this hormone.

These changes may include:

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is not commonly caused by low testosterone production. In cases where ED accompanies lower testosterone production, hormone replacement therapy may help with ED symptoms.

These side effects typically don’t happen suddenly, and if they do, lower testosterone levels may not be the only cause.

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, even though it’s a sex hormone that all humans have.

Male testosterone directly influences muscle mass, body hair, and overall body development and form.

Decreases in testosterone levels can lead to physical changes, including the following:

Low testosterone may cause lower energy levels, insomnia, and other changes in sleep patterns.

Testosterone replacement therapy may contribute to or cause sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea 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 strokes.

On the other hand, changes in the body that occur as a result of sleep apnea can lead to low testosterone levels.

Even if you don’t have sleep apnea, low testosterone can still contribute to a decrease in the hours of sleep. Researchers aren’t yet sure why this happens.

In addition to causing physical changes, having low levels of testosterone can affect you on an emotional level.

Low testosterone levels can lead to feelings of sadness or develop into depression. Some people have trouble with memory and concentration and experience lowered motivation and self-confidence.

Testosterone is linked to emotional regulation. Male depression has been linked to low testosterone levels. This could result from a combination of irritability, decreased sex drive, and fatigue that can come with low testosterone.

While each of the symptoms above may be a result of a low testosterone level, they may also be effects of aging. Other reasons you may experience some of these symptoms include:

To determine the cause of long-standing or recurring symptoms, consider scheduling an appointment with a primary physician or urologist.

Regardless of the reason you’re experiencing low testosterone levels, treatment options are available to increase levels or reduce symptoms.

A doctor will want to gather information about your symptoms, and will likely recommend blood tests, including:

  • total testosterone
  • sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)
  • calculated free testosterone
  • serum LH/FSH
  • semen analysis

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

Testosterone therapy is not recommended for those who have experienced or are at a high risk of prostate cancer.

Losing weight and being physically active

Exercising more and losing weight, if needed, can help slow down the decrease in testosterone levels.

Erectile dysfunction medication

Erectile dysfunction medications may help if this is one of the effects of low testosterone in your body. Discussing options with a urologist or primary physician is the first step.

Sleeping aids

If you’re unable to get relief from insomnia using relaxation and natural remedies, a doctor may recommend sleeping medications.

If you’re experiencing any symptoms of low testosterone, the first step is to seek medical support. A doctor may want to test your levels and determine if low testosterone is the cause of your symptoms.

A diagnosis can be made with a simple blood test, and there are a variety of treatment and management options.

A doctor may also help you determine the underlying cause of low testosterone, besides the natural effects of growing older.