[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/01\/what-causes-low-testosterone\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/01\/what-causes-low-testosterone\/","headline":"What Are the Symptoms of Low Testosterone?","name":"What Are the Symptoms of Low Testosterone?","description":"Low testosterone is common in aging adults, but not in younger men. Learn more about what causes low testosterone levels and treatment options at UPMC.","datePublished":"2020-01-06","dateModified":"2022-08-30","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/urology\/services\/mens-health-center","name":"Men’s Health Center","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/urology\/services\/mens-health-center","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/mens-health-center\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/lowtestosterone.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/lowtestosterone.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/01\/what-causes-low-testosterone\/","about":["Living and Wellness","Men's Health","Urology"],"wordCount":578,"keywords":["hypogonadism","Infertility","low testosterone","UPMC Men's Health Center"],"articleBody":"What Causes Low Testosterone?As men begin to age, the amount of testosterone in their bodies decreases. This natural aging process is often what causes decreased testosterone. Up to 40 percent of men begin to experience a reduction in this male hormone in their 40s.Deficient testosterone levels in young men are less common, and they can happen for a number of different reasons. Read on to learn what causes low testosterone and testosterone deficiency and whether you could be at risk.What Is Low Testosterone?Testosterone is important for male development and fertility. This hormone, produced in the testicles, is responsible for the bodily changes that happen during puberty and for making sperm. Testosterone levels are considered low when the body does not produce enough testosterone on its own.Testosterone is a crucial hormone in the development of the body. It is responsible for the growth of muscle mass, bone density, even facial and body hair. It also influences the deepening of the voice, the production of sperm, the growth of the prostate, and the sex drive of the individual.Symptoms of Low TestosteroneMen with a testosterone deficiency may notice physical symptoms, such as fatigue, erectile dysfunction, or an inability to conceive with their partner.Symptoms of low testosterone are sometimes difficult to recognize since they can look similar to symptoms of other conditions. They also may vary by age. Symptoms include:\u2022 Infertility.\u2022 Erectile dysfunction.\u2022 Low body fat.\u2022 Depression or other changes in mood.\u2022 Low sex drive.\u2022 Low muscle mass.\u2022 Hair thinning.\u2022 Fatigue.What are the Causes Low Testosterone?Testosterone deficiency syndrome and hypogonadism are other terms often used to describe testosterone levels that have dropped. Some men have low testosterone levels all their lives, while others develop it later in life.Hypogonadism is a combination of low testosterone levels on evaluation and symptoms suggestive of having low testosterone. There are two main types of hypogonadism: primary and secondary.Primary hypogonadismPrimary hypogonadism is either inherited or occurs after an illness or injury. It is a testicular problem \u2014 the testes do not produce enough testosterone. Primary hypogonadism can be caused by:\u2022 Testicles that failed to descend at birth.\u2022 High levels of iron.\u2022 Klinefelter syndrome.Secondary hypogonadismSecondary hypogonadism happens when certain parts of the brain \u2014 such as the pituitary gland, which produces hormones, or the hypothalamus, which helps regulate hormones \u2014 are damaged.Factors related to secondary hypogonadism are:\u2022 Age.\u2022 High levels of body fat.\u2022 Autoimmune diseases.Hypogonadism TreatmentHypogonadism is a treatable condition with a variety of treatment options, although primary hypogonadism is more difficult to treat. Men who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes are especially at risk. Doctors often will perform a blood test if you are showing symptoms of deficient testosterone levels before prescribing any treatment.Low testosterone treatment optionsThere are many options to increase testosterone in cases of low testosterone, such as:\u2022 Gels\u2022 Creams\u2022 Patches\u2022 Injections\u2022 ImplantsWhile all of these treatments will introduce testosterone into the body in a controlled way, there may be side effects of these treatments, such as acne, worse sleep apnea,\u00a0 breast enlargement, testicle shrinkage, and excess red blood cell production resulting in blood clots. Be sure to contact your doctor if your testosterone treatment is having any of these side effects.For more information about primary and secondary hypogonadism, visit the UPMC Men’s Health Center or call 1-877-647-4636(4MEN).Editor's Note: This article was originally published on January 6, 2020, and was last reviewed on August 29, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2020","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"01","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/\/01\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What Are the Symptoms of Low Testosterone?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/01\/what-causes-low-testosterone\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]