Worried About Your Testosterone Levels? Here Are Some Common Signs of Low Levels in Men

A lot of the health information out there focuses on hormones and related issues in women, yet guys can have up-and-down levels of different hormones, too.

While men like to assume their testosterone levels are riding high at all times, unfortunately, this isn’t always the reality. Here are some of the common signs of dips in this sex hormone that you might like to keep an eye out for over the years.

Reduced Sex Drive

When men don’t feel like having sex as much as usual, the reason(s) can vary, including depression, stress, anxiety, age, and fatigue. However, these things tend to create a slow, off and on, or generally less apparent issue. A reduced sex drive that seems rapid and significant, on the other hand, may come down to low testosterone levels. Testosterone is one of the most crucial hormones factoring into libido levels, so a drop in this will noticeably affect your interest in sex.

Loss of Hair or Less Hair Growth

Like with women, changes to your hair can indicate significant hormonal fluctuations. Do you seem to be losing a lot more hair than ever before, or perhaps you don’t need a haircut so often because your hair isn’t growing as much? If so, the cause may be a reduction in testosterone.

This sex hormone plays a role in many different bodily functions, including hair production on your head, face, and other parts of your body. Changes in your hair may be related to aging, your diet, stress, or even a change in seasons, though, so don’t assume the worst right away. Monitor the situation and see if it continues to happen.

Sleep Issues and Lethargy

There are many reasons why people end up with insomnia, other sleep disturbances, and feelings of extreme lethargy. However, one you should be aware of is a testosterone imbalance. Low levels of this hormone can make you more likely to develop sleep apnea and have more trouble with other sleep disorders you may already face. Furthermore, a general sense of tiredness that you can’t explain may relate to the sleep issues you develop or stem from your testosterone levels being much lower than they should be.

Erectile Dysfunction

Men often learn they have reduced testosterone levels when they speak to a medical professional about erectile dysfunction. Guys who struggle to get or maintain erections may lack the sex hormone and have the erection issue because testosterone stimulates tissues in the penis to produce nitric oxide. This oxide starts the reaction that creates an erection.

When testosterone is lacking, the chemical reaction can’t occur as normal, and erections become challenging. However, note that problems with erections can stem from other health problems, too, so it’s best to get your levels checked to find out what’s going on.

Smaller Testicles or Lower Semen Levels

Have you noticed that your testicle size seems to be diminishing recently, and this is unrelated to exposure to the cold or other factors that would typically have a short-term impact? If so, this is a sign of struggling testosterone levels. If you’ve always had testicles on the smaller size and have no other symptoms, you don’t need to worry about this idea, but if yours used to be bigger and seem to have shrunk, this may be because you don’t have enough testosterone in your system.

Alternatively, if your semen output when you ejaculate is lower than usual, you might also have a testosterone problem. This hormone plays a vital role in the production of semen, meaning any drop in it will lead to a decline in semen, too.

Some other top signs of lowered testosterone in men include more significant mood swings (especially those for no apparent reason), a reduction in muscle mass, or an increase in fat gain.

What to Do if You Notice Signs of Low Testosterone Levels

If some of the above symptoms ring a bell for you, it’s time to book in to see your doctor, whether online or in person. They will want to get your blood tested, give you a physical exam, and perhaps run other tests. They’ll also ask you multiple questions about your health history to diagnose low testosterone if that’s the problem.

There are numerous treatment options they may recommend. The most common is specific testosterone-related medication (patches, gels, capsules, implanted pellets, or injections) to help improve your levels of the sex hormone. You can order many of these using online prescriptions if that’s more comfortable for you.

Plus, some vitamins are said to help boost testosterone, or a physician may suggest ideas such as reducing stress levels, getting more sleep, eating well, exercising, and getting enough vitamin D from sunlight. 

The sooner you recognize signs of dropped testosterone levels, the sooner you can do something about it. Don’t put off seeing your doctor if you’re concerned.