Drastic fall in sex drive, difficulty with erection, low semen volume, hair loss, loss of energy, loss of muscle mass, increased body fat  and large breasts in men, difficulty in concentration, decreased bone density, changes in sleep pattern, lack of motivation, low trauma bone fracture or osteopenia, hot flashes, aches in bones and joints and infertility are some of the common low testosterone symptoms in men.

What is testosterone?

Testosterone is a sex hormone often associated with males, though the female body contains the testosterone in small quantities.  Testosterone controls sex drive for men, sperm production, muscle mass and bone mineral density, red blood cell production, and even affects his mood.  If a male has a low level of testosterone, the symptoms can include erectile dysfunction, and reduced bone mass and sex drive, among other effects. The production of testosterone is controlled by the brain and pituitary gland.

Normal level of testosterone

The normal range in the male body is around 270 to 1070 ng/dL with an average level of 679 ng/dL.  The testosterone level is the highest in adult males around the age of 20, when it is 700 ng/dl on an average. Testosterone levels above or below the normal range are considered to be imbalanced. According to a scientific report by Mayo Clinic the widely accepted normal level of testosterone in men ranges between 400 – 600 ng/dL.

15 Symptoms of Low Levels of Testosterone in Men

Drastic fall in Sex Drive

Low testosterone in men can cause reduced urge for sexual activity and affect the mental and physical well being of the male body. Sex drive can reduce with old age for men, but low testosterone will cause sudden fall in the sex drive.

Difficulty with erection

Testosterone stimulates a man’s sex drive and helps to achieve and maintain an erection.  Testosterone stimulates receptors in the brain to make it produce nitric oxide which helps to trigger a series of chemical reactions which make an erection occur. Due to low levels of testosterone in men they have difficulty maintaining an erection.

Low semen volume

Testosterone plays a key role in semen production. Semen is the milky fluid that helps in the motility of sperm. Men with a decreased amount of testosterone will cause a reduction in the amount of their semen ejaculation.

Hair Loss

Testosterone plays an important part in regulating many bodily functions including hair formation and growth. Balding is a common problem in men but a low amount of testosterone will cause more drastic hair loss.

Loss of energy

Low energy level is a common symptom of testosterone. Even with proper sleep and proper diet, if one’s testosterone level is low then one would not find enough energy or enthusiasm even for daily activities.

Loss of muscle mass

Testosterone is important in building body mass.  Low levels of testosterone affects muscle mass and reduce muscle mass however it might not affect bodily strength.  According to a scientific survey report published in Nature research journal, after blood sampling and statistical analysis it was found that low levels of testosterone cause lower muscle mass in the body.

Increased body fat  and large breasts in men

Low levels of testosterone in men causes an increase in the amount of accumulated fat in the male body, and especially around the chest.  Obesity can be caused by a multiple number of factors, but low testosterone is a leading cause of obesity.

Difficulty in concentration

Testosterone affects a number of brain functions in men, including their level of concentration. Cognitive ability of the brain does reduce with old age, but low levels of testosterone in men increases difficulty in focusing and concentrating for a substantial amount of time.

Decreased Bone density

According to a scientific survey published in Nature Research Journal, men with low levels of testosterone had lower bone density, reduced muscle mass and lower levels of spontaneous activity.  Low levels of testosterone cause low bone mineral density and reduce bone strength.

Changes in Sleep Pattern

According to a scientific report published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, studies showed that low levels of testosterone affected sleep quality and sleep related breathing disorder. Low levels of testosterone in men cause low sleep efficiency.  Lack of healthy sleep can be triggered by a number of factors in old men, and low levels of testosterone are one of them.

Lack of Motivation

According to a survey report published in the research journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, low levels of testosterone are correlated to depression in men. Fall in testosterone level can lead to loss of mental well being and lack of motivation is a common symptom in this case., because it can lead to an unfulfilling sexual and romantic life.

Low Trauma Bone Fracture or Osteopenia

According to a scientific survey published in Reviews in Urology , low levels of testosterone in men cause low bone strength which leads to the condition of osteopenia where one’s bones are weaker than normal and can break easily.

Hot Flashes

Hot flash is a sudden experiencing of intense heat that is caused due to internal reasons in your body and not due to external surroundings.  According to a scientific report in Mayo Clinic and in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, hot flashes and sudden night sweats are caused due to low levels of testosterone in men.

Aches in bones and joints

Although with old age, joint pain is a common ailment bothering aged men and women, low testosterone in men is a common cause for low bone strength and aches in bones and joints.

Infertility

Low levels of testosterone in men result in low sperm count which is a leading cause for infertility. Sperm count falls with old age, but low levels of testosterone can cause infertility which leads to difficulty in conception.

Treatment for low testosterone

The most common treatment for low levels of testosterone in men is testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) which can be implemented through skin patches, tablets, injections and surgery. A natural way of increasing low levels of testosterone in men is to consume a meal high in nutrient and vitamin content with eggs, milk, beans and fish.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2453053/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-27481-3