Causes of low testosterone levels: testicular injuries or infections, chemotherapy or radiation treatments for cancer, pituitary gland disease or other hormonal disorders, medications such as corticosteroids and opiates to relieve pain, genetic conditions such as Klinefelter syndrome, alcohol and drug abuse. There have been hundreds of studies showing that certain foods have detrimental effects on testosterone. These include soy, nuts, fish, spearmint tea, red reishi mushrooms, flaxseed, refined carbohydrates, and meat hormones. To properly combat these effects, it is important that you consume these foods in moderation.
In addition to foods that affect testosterone levels, there are also drinks that you should avoid. Two of the best-known beverages are beer and water with high levels of estrogen. Even moderate alcohol consumption has been found to reduce testosterone levels by up to 6.8%. Unlike women, where estrogen levels drop dramatically at the start of menopause, a man's loss of testosterone with age is usually a slow trend, not a sharp drop.
Stress and chronic or acute illnesses can also affect testosterone levels, Levine says, sometimes leading to sudden drops. Diabetes, obesity, hypertension, chronic lung disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and kidney disease have the possible side effect of decreased testosterone levels. Certain health conditions, medications, or injuries can cause low testosterone levels (low T levels). The level of testosterone also naturally decreases with age.
Low testosterone levels can affect sexual desire, mood, and changes in muscles and fat. Many men are concerned about their testosterone levels as the rise in diagnoses of low testosterone is spreading across the country. Testosterone levels naturally decrease during the day, so it's important to control them early when they're at their peak. It's hard for researchers to estimate how common low testosterone is, as different studies have different definitions of low testosterone levels.
Primary hypogonadism occurs when something is wrong with the testicles and doesn't allow them to produce normal levels of testosterone. However, ongoing hormone replacement therapy helps improve sexual desire, alleviate symptoms of depression, and increase energy levels in many people assigned male at birth (AMAB) who have low testosterone levels. The test helps determine if the testicles are failing or if the testicles are not being properly stimulated to produce testosterone. Any problem with the testicles, hypothalamus, or pituitary gland can cause low testosterone levels (male hypogonadism).
An empty testosterone receptor has been silenced, no longer issuing an order and not activating the cellular activity it should perform. In fact, studies show that the average man's testosterone is almost 25% lower than it was 30 years ago. Researchers at the University of North Carolina suggest that high-intensity exercise is linked to lower sexual desire and lower testosterone levels. A patient usually doesn't go to the doctor's office saying that they think they have low testosterone levels.
And other studies have estimated that more than 8% of people with AMAB aged 50 to 79 have low testosterone levels. Many people ignore symptoms associated with low testosterone levels as an unpleasant part of aging. The goal is for men to return to normal levels, as excess testosterone can have its own negative side effects. Testosterone replacement therapy, also known as androgen replacement therapy, is available in the form of injections, implants, gels, or patches.
If you have symptoms of low testosterone, such as decreased sex drive and hot flashes, talk to a healthcare provider. .
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