What Are Low Testosterone Symptoms?

Do you feel more tired, more quickly—even after a restful night’s sleep?

Do you struggle with motivation or low self-esteem?

Are you worried about your disappearing sex drive?

Several underlying conditions could be responsible for these feelings.

It’s time to diagnose and treat the root cause of your symptoms—so you can start feeling like yourself again.

In addition to physical changes, signs of low testosterone (low T) can include sadness, depression, irritability, and low libido. Low T can also lead to difficulties with memory and concentration.

You do not have to live this way.

Here we share vital information about low testosterone symptoms and causes. We also share recommended Ulta Lab Tests to help diagnose the root cause of low T.

These tests are essential for helping you and your doctor determine your most effective treatment plan.

What is Low Testosterone?

In men, low testosterone (hypogonadism) occurs when your testicles do not produce enough testosterone.

Testosterone is a primary male hormone that helps regulate fertility, muscle mass, fat distribution, and red blood cell production. It's necessary for muscle growth, strength, stamina, and mood regulation.

Testosterone is also important for women. It supports bone density, muscle mass, cognitive function, mood, sexual function, and energy.

The good news is both men and women can take action to reverse the effects of low T.

Why Testosterone Therapy (TT)?

TT helps regulate hormone levels in men and women to address the signs of low testosterone.

For men with low testosterone, TT can help improve the following:

• Libido
• Symptoms of erectile dysfunction
• Energy levels
• Mood
• Sperm count

Men may also benefit from testosterone therapy if one or both testicles have been injured or removed due to illness.

TT can help improve Low T symptoms in women by enhancing the following:

• Libido
• Psychological well-being
• Bone density
• Muscle mass

Testosterone therapy can also help treat many uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes.

How Common is Low Testosterone in Men?

For most men, testosterone peaks during adolescence or early childhood and declines after age 30. This is a natural part of aging.

Low testosterone is quite common, affecting approximately 40% of men over 45.

When testosterone levels drop below what is considered healthy, it can make you irritable, tired, and even depressed. Low T can also lead to several health problems, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes.

Signs and Symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency in Men

You may have testosterone deficiency if you’re experiencing any of the following low testosterone symptoms:

• Low sex drive
• Erectile function
• Loss of body and facial hair
• Loss of lean muscle mass
• Inability to sleep
• Fatigue
• Unexplained weight gain
• Feeling sad or depressed
• Low energy
• Brain fog
• Inability to focus
• Loss of strength or stamina
• Loss of interest in work, family, hobbies, etc.

Causes of Low Testosterone

There are two primary causes of low testosterone in men: primary and secondary hypogonadism.

Primary hypogonadism

Primary hypogonadism occurs when there’s a problem in the testicles (where testosterone is produced). These problems often result from a developmental issue, injury, or illness, such as:

• Undescended testicles
• Physical injury
• Mumps infection
• Chemotherapy or radiation
• Klinefelter’s syndrome (men born with three sex chromosomes)
• Hemochromatosis (elevated iron levels in the blood)
• Type 2 diabetes
• Chronic liver disease
• Kidney disease
• COPD

Secondary hypogonadism

In secondary hypogonadism, the testicles are healthy but tend to malfunction. This cause can be attributed to problems in the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, which may include:

• Pituitary disorders caused by drugs, kidney failure, or small tumors
• Kallmann syndrome (related to abnormal hypothalamus function)
• Inflammatory diseases that can impact the pituitary gland and hypothalamus (e.g., tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, histiocytosis)
• HIV/AIDS
• Normal aging
• Obesity
• Opioid pain medications and steroids

How to Check Testosterone Levels

Order a physician-approved blood test today if you've been struggling with low testosterone symptoms like depression, irritability, or sluggishness.

Our testosterone lab tests can help you discover whether an underlying medical issue is the root cause of low testosterone.

• Low T—Lab Test Review Panel
• Testosterone Replacement Package I
• Testosterone Replacement Package II
• Testosterone Replacement Package Plus
• Testosterone Treatment Evaluation
• Testosterone and GH Peptide Treatment Evaluation
• Testosterone, Free (Dialysis) and Total MS
• Testosterone, Total, MS
• Testosterone, Total and Free; and Sex Hormone Bind
• Testosterone, Total, Males (Adult) Only
• Testosterone, Free Bioavailable and Total, LC/MS/MS

How to Diagnosis Low T

If you have low testosterone symptoms, talk to your primary healthcare physician. In addition to performing a complete physical exam, they’ll ask about your medical history, medications, smoking history, and current symptoms.

Your physician-approved lab tests can also help your doctor identify the root cause of your symptoms. Common causes include:

• Age-related decline
• Injury
• Illness
• Pituitary gland disease
• Other hormone disorders

Low Testosterone Treatment

If you’ve been diagnosed with low T, you may not be prescribed testosterone therapy at first. While it is widely used and highly successful, it is not without risks. To begin, your doctor may want to treat the source of the declining levels with holistic therapies. They may prescribe:

• Regular exercise
• Maintaining a healthy diet
• Stress relief (e.g., yoga, meditation, sleep)
• Nutritional supplements or probiotics
• Vitamin D
• Limiting alcohol

However, if you and your doctor feel that testosterone replacement therapy is right for you, several options exist. They include:

• Skin patches—applied once every 24 hours
• Topical gels—applied daily to upper arms, shoulders, or thighs
• Oral therapy—swallowed or attached to the inside of your check or gum twice daily
• Pellets—implanted under the skin near the hip or buttocks and are replaced every three to six months
• Injections—injected every seven to 14 days

Most men feel low testosterone symptoms improve within four to six weeks of beginning treatment. However, it may take three to six months before you have noticeable changes in physical appearance (e.g., increased muscle mass and reduced body fat).