Low Testosterone and Mental Health
Low Testosterone is associated with many conditions, including increased body fat, fatigued bones, hot flashes, decreased body hair, and increased fatigue. However, it has been suggested that low Testosterone also contributes to mental health.
But how true is this? Can low testosterone affect your mental health? What is the relationship between low Testosterone and mental health?
We have done our findings and below are the results. But before we reveal them to you, let’s understand what low testosterone is.
What is Low Testosterone?
Testosterone is a male hormone produced in the testicles. It affects your look and sexual development, triggers sperm production and sex drive, and helps develop muscle and bone mass.
Testosterone production drops as you age. Based on findings by the American Urological Association, about 40% of males ages 45 and older have low Testosterone.
If your testosterone levels dip significantly, you may experience lots of symptoms that are often subtle. Low Testosterone can be treated using many treatment options.
However, one of the most common and effective ways to boost testosterone levels is by undergoing TRT. Testosterone replacement therapy is a treatment for individuals with low testosterone levels. The benefits of testosterone replacement therapy include improved energy level, sex drive, lean muscle mass, mood, and sense of wellbeing.
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Causes of Low Testosterone
As mentioned earlier, testosterone levels drop as you approach old age. However, there are other conditions that may result in low Testosterone. They are:
- AIDS
- Stress
- Cancer treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation
- Alcohol use disorder
- Kidney disease
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Obesity
- Metabolic syndrome
- Pituitary gland conditions
- Infection
- Autoimmune disease
- Using certain medications
What are Mood Changes?
A mood swing is a rapid or severe change in an emotional state. During a mood swing, a person who was once happy and smiling may suddenly become sad, sullen, angry, or sad. Mood swing is common in both males and females. In this post, we'll reveal the connection between mood changes and low Testosterone in men.
Low Testosterone can affect your mood.
Normally, men's testosterone levels begin to drop as they age. Some men, however, experience hormone levels that are lower than usual. This case results in many unwanted symptoms, including weight gain, erectile dysfunction, and mood changes.
Low Testosterone can lead to mood changes and gynecomastia in men. Unfortunately, due to ignorance, some blame these changes on stress or lack of sleep. However, it may be a clear indication to visit the doctor and check your hormone levels.
Testosterone is a neuroactive steroid, meaning that it can affect the function of your central nervous system. Multiple researchers believe this may be why a drop in hormone levels can affect mood. Plus, in some studies conducted on animals, testosterone treatment could increase serotonin production. Thus, there may be a connection between Testosterone and serotonin, aka the happy chemical.
Furthermore, many of the other effects of low T may affect your mood. For instance, men are likely to experience weight gain as a result of low testosterone levels. This can dampen your self-confidence, resulting in signs of social anxiety or depression. Other common symptoms of low Testosterone, like reduced sexual urge and sexual dysfunction, may also affect your romantic relationship. This could be an indirect cause of mood change.
While professionals are still studying the relationship between Testosterone and mood, many studies and anecdotal evidence show that the connection may be more than we previously thought.
How Can Low Testosterone Affect Your Mood?
Here are a few ways In which low Testosterone can affect your mood:
1. Irritability
Men with low testosterone levels will experience more mood swings than those with balanced testosterone levels. When testosterone levels drop and cortisol levels increases, the results are often:
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Hostility
- Irritability
2. Zero Focus
We often struggle to maintain optimum focus from time, especially when digital distractions are at their peak. However, low Testosterone can increase this problem. Because Testosterone plays a key role in supporting cognitive and organizational tasks, a drop in its levels can make it hard to maintain absolute focus.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone and Mental Health Problems are Always Similar
Another crucial thing to understand is that low testosterone and mental health issues have similar symptoms.
Low testosterone levels can lead to the following symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory difficulties
- Insomnia
- Low sex drive
If you study the symptoms closely, you'll see that they are similar to depression and anxiety disorders. So it is often hard to differentiate between some mental health conditions and low Testosterone.
Conclusion
Though low Testosterone is not life-threatening, it can result in conditions that can hinder your quality of life. In addition, and as proven in the post, low Testosterone is linked with your mental health. So ensure you avoid habits that cause low Testosterone and if you are experiencing the condition, contact your doctor to know your options.
