The “male hormone,” otherwise known as testosterone, plays a huge role in many aspects of a man’s life. That’s why it can be alarming when your levels drop below the normal range—it can lead to different physical and psychological symptoms that can seriously impact how you live. Getting familiar with the signs of low T can help you detect it early, which is so important when it comes to managing your hormones. Here are signs that might suggest a man is experiencing low testosterone levels.
1. You’re dealing with hot flashes.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just women who experience hot flashes. Yup, men (especially ones with low T) can get them, too. Basically, when you have low levels of testosterone it stimulates a release of cortisol. That heightened hormone tells your body that it needs to turn the thermostat up. Wild, right?
2. You’re losing hair.
To be clear, this isn’t about the hair on your head…it’s the hair on your face and body. So, if you notice that your goatee is looking suspiciously sparse or see that your once thick coat of back hair is now on the thinner side, you may be suffering from male pattern baldness.
3. Your libido is low.
Sure, there are tons of things that can make you lose interest in sex, but low testosterone is a common culprit. So if you can rule out the other causes of low libido (medications, relationship struggles, illness, etc.) you might want to talk to your doctor about getting your levels tested.
4. You’re super low-energy.
Can’t stop yawning? If you’re extremely tired all the time or don’t have the energy that you used to, low T may be the reason. There aren’t clear answers as to why fatigue is such a common symptom but it might be related to struggles with sleeping (more on that below). See how you’re feeling after a full night’s sleep and then reassess.
5. You struggle with sleep.
If you’re noticing that you’re tired after a full night’s sleep or can’t seem to catch enough shuteye, your T levels might be lower. Here’s one theory as to why: when testosterone goes down, your cortisol levels go up. Because cortisol, the stress hormone, usually contributes to being awake, it can result in the form of bad sleep.
6. You’ve grown man boobs.
The technical term for this is ‘gynecomastia.’ It’s a well-known fact that men normally produce small amounts of estrogen to help support the overall function of the body. But, if you’re overproducing estrogen and underproducing testosterone, then your breasts may get bigger. This isn’t harmful but it can feel sore and some men feel embarrassed by this.
7. Your bones are weaker.
If you have low T, you’re more prone to things like broken bones and osteoporosis. Without getting too science-y, testosterone simulates a type of cell (osteoblasts) to deposit bone. Plus, if your T is low, so is your estrogen and estrogen also stops a different cell type’s (osteoclast) activity. Bottom line: Low T = you make less bone.
8. Your gym gains are weak.
Let’s say you’ve been in the gym 7 days a week, with no off days. But there’s one problem: you’re not noticing any gains or new muscles popping. That could be a sign of low T. Testosterone is pretty much the most important hormone when it comes to muscle growth. So, when you’re exhibiting a low level of it, your muscle mass may start to shrink.
9. You’re gaining weight.
We already discussed the fact that without enough T, your muscles can’t grow. But that means that any excess calories you’re consuming won’t be turned into muscle, they’re more likely to be stored as fat. It boils down to this: excess fat can cause T levels to decline and then you gain more weight—a vicious cycle.
10. You have ED.
If it’s hard for you to get down to business, then it’s probably worth getting your testosterone levels checked. Without enough testosterone, blood flow won’t be directed where it’s supposed to go. Of course, there are a lot of psychological and physiological factors at play, but your doctor can help sort it out.
11. Your moods are swinging.
Grumpier than usual? That might be low T. There aren’t too many studies on the link between T and mood but one small study found that men (aged 21-41) had a better chance of being diagnosed with depression than the control group did. The irritability you’re experiencing may also be because of other symptoms of low T, like low libido and loss of energy.
12. You’re infertile.
Testosterone is one of the main hormones needed to create the stuff that makes a baby. So, if you and your partner are having trouble conceiving, then you may want to have your levels checked.
13. Your blood count is low.
As we said, low T can make you feel tired and weak. That might be because of sleep disturbances, but it also could be anemia, which is a condition that means you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells to bring adequate oxygen to your organs and tissues. Some other symptoms of anemia include problems concentrating, dizziness, chest pain, an abnormally rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, and pale skin.
14. You’re having a hard time focusing.
Maybe you’re unable to get through a work day or you’re having a hard time paying attention to your family. However, it manifests, low focus and low T are closely linked. That’s because low testosterone causes your cortisol to rise. If this goes untreated, it can impair your learning and memory.
15. Your memory is suffering.
You could blame getting older for the forgetfulness, but it could also be a signal that your testosterone has decreased. It isn’t always the cause, so don’t jump to conclusions, but having low T does increase men’s risks of developing Alzheimer’s and age-related dementia. Taking a trip to the doctor would probably be a wise move.
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