By Mike Kocsis | 7 minutes read | Last updated: November 4, 2025 Categories: Testosterone
Medically Reviewed by Dr. George Touliatos
Low testosterone, also termed hypogonadism, affects health on emotional, physical and mental levels. It can lead to a decline in sexual function, sleep disturbances, loss of muscle mass and fatigue.
Testosterone deficiency doesn’t affect everyone in the same way. Some men notice a drop in their sex drive while others experience tiredness, mood changes or reduced strength.
A gradual decline in testosterone levels is a natural part of aging but some people develop testosterone deficiency due to an acquired or a congenital condition.
Here are the common effects of low testosterone and their proven solutions.
1. Reduced sex drive
Testosterone is a sex hormone, so naturally, it plays an essential role in sexual functions in the body.
A person with low testosterone levels can experience multiple symptoms related to sexual health, including low libido and infertility.
Some men also have trouble getting and maintaining an erection, also called erectile dysfunction (ED). ED, however, can have many other causes and low T is one of the less common causes.
2. Fatigue
You may feel like you are no longer as energetic as you used to be. You experience increased tiredness, poor concentration even after sleeping for 7 to 8 hours.
Low T may also lead to low self-confidence and motivation, which can further fuel tiredness and vice versa.
3. Loss of muscle mass
You start losing muscle mass and strength. Bodybuilding exercises that you once found very effective may not produce the same results.
4. Increased body fat
You may gain weight due to the accumulation of body fats, especially belly fat.
Loss of muscle mass reinforces this effect, as less muscle means lower resting metabolic rate which results in fewer calories burned. Fatigue due to low T also makes it harder to exercise, turning weight loss journey into a real struggle.
5. Loss of bone density
Bones may lose their density, making the person more susceptible to bone fractures even after minor falls. Their risk of developing osteoporosis (that makes bones weak and brittle) may also increase.
6. Reduced mental focus and brain fog
When your hormone testosterone levels are below normal, you have trouble concentrating and develop memory issues. You may forget your plans, what you were just going to say, or where you placed your home/car keys. It is more common in men who have extremely low testosterone levels.
7. Mood changes
Low T can make the person feel sad and depressed most of the time. They may lose interest in things that once used to make you happy. They may also notice a change in your personality and don’t feel like themselves anymore.
8. Body hair loss
Low testosterone can make the person lose facial hair and body hair, more specifically hair from upper legs, arms, pubic area and beard. Scalp hair may also become thin and lose shine.
9. Sleep issues
Catching a few hours of quality sleep can become nearly impossible due to low T as it can cause frequent awakenings, insomnia and poor sleep efficiency.
Identifying the causes of low testosterone
If low testosterone is influencing multiple aspects of your health and life, you should try to identify low T cause and get rid of it if you can.
Low T can occur due to primary and secondary hypogonadism, which are explained below:
Primary hypogonadism
Primary hypogonadism is a condition where the testes fail to produce sufficient testosterone, despite the pituitary gland signalling them to do so with hormones like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).
The following conditions can cause primary hypogonadism:
- Undescended testicles
- Klinefelter’s syndrome
- Noonan syndrome
- Myotonic dystrophy
- Poor development of Leydig cells in testes
- Testicle removal
- Testicle injury
- Testicle inflammation
- Cancer treatment (chemotherapy or radiation therapy)
- Usage of certain medication
Secondary hypogonadism
Secondary hypogonadism is a condition where the testes are capable of producing testosterone but fail to do so due to problems in the brain’s signalling process.
Secondary hypogonadism may occur due to the following conditions:
- Kallmann syndrome
- Prader-Willi syndrome
- Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Brain injury
- Pituitary tumor
- Brain tumour
- Liver disease
- Renal failure
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- AIDS
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Excessive consumption of alcohol
- Certain medications, such as psychoactive drugs and estrogens
Identifying the underlying cause of your symptoms of low testosterone is essential to choose the right treatment plan.
Testosterone blood test for low T diagnose
In addition to analysing your symptoms, doctors also conduct testosterone tests to diagnose low T.
These tests find out what your current levels of free and total testosterone are. Free testosterone is the testosterone available to cells, while total testosterone is the sum of free and protein-bound testosterone.
They may also ask you to have a few other tests and imaging to identify what is causing testosterone deficiency syndrome.
Ways to treat low testosterone levels
Low testosterone levels can impact your energy, mood, and overall quality of life, but the good news is that there are effective ways to address the issue.
From medical treatments like testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to lifestyle changes that support hormonal balance, there are various options available to help restore your testosterone levels.
Lifestyle Changes
If your low testosterone is being caused by poor lifestyle, another option that you have is to make healthy lifestyle changes that increase the body’s ability to keep a balanced testosterone level.
This is often used as the method of choice by those that have a poor lifestyle such as smoking, poor diet, and frequent alcohol use.
Simple lifestyle changes can make your body more able to produce testosterone and maintain it at a consistent and healthy level.
The most effective lifestyle modifications include regular exercise, prioritize quality sleep, have a balanced and healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight.
Testosterone replacement therapy
If your testosterone levels are below normal and you are unable to increase them using natural methods, hormone replacement therapy can help increase your serum testosterone concentration.
In this treatment, artificial testosterone is administered through testosterone injections, testosterone gels, patches, and tablets.
Men having testosterone treatment report the following benefits.
- Improvement in energy levels
- Improvement in body fat distribution
- Increased muscle strength and mass
- Stronger bones
- Improved ability to concentrate
- Improved sexual function
You may be a TRT candidate if low blood testosterone is disturbing your life and you do not have any of the following conditions.
- Prostate cancer
- Unevaluated lump on the prostate gland
- Breast cancer
- Sleep apnea
- Untreated heart disease
- Blood clots issue
Testosterone therapy side effects
Although TRT hormone therapy is known to improve muscle, bone, and sexual organ health, it also carries some side effects that you must discuss with your doctor to find out how you can avoid them. Common examples of TRT side effects are:
- Acne
- Shrinkage of testicles
- Reduction in sperm production/ infertility
- Fluid retention
- Increase in male breast size
- Breast soreness
- Swelling of ankles and feet
How Balance My Hormones can help
Balance My Hormones is one of the original hormone clinics operating globally that specialises in testosterone deficiencies. We work with a range of national and international expert hormone doctors that help to diagnose and treat hormonal imbalances.
We help facilitate your diagnois, blood tests and on-going treatment and monitoring so you can get on with your life and not have to worry about your hormones any longer.
Check out our Feefo reviews to see some of our hundreds of happy customers here, and get in touch to book your free consultation here.
FAQs about effects of low testosterone
Can TRT help with fertility?
No, TRT is not recommended for men trying to conceive, as it can suppress sperm production. If fertility is a concern, alternative treatments should be discussed with a doctor.
Does low T increase the risk of diabetes?
Studies show that men with low T have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Testosterone helps with the transfer of glucose from the blood to body cells. Its low levels increase insulin resistance in the body. As a result, your body starts making more insulin to maintain blood glucose levels, leading to type 2 diabetes.
Can low testosterone cause headaches?
Yes, low T can cause headaches. Studies indicate that men with migraine and persistent headache often have lower T levels compared to men with no headache issue.
Does low testosterone make you angry?
Low testosterone does not directly cause anger but it can lead to irritability and mood swings that make a person more prone to anger.
Summing it up
Male hypogonadism (low testosterone) is a common problem among men and can has a negative effect on overall health. It can occur at any age, but it is more prevalent in older men.
Men with mild testosterone deficiency may not experience signs of low testosterone frequently; hence, they may not need TRT.
However, if your testosterone levels are very low and the condition is influencing your life in multiple ways, you should consider getting timely treatment to avoid further complications.
References
Verhagen, I.E., Brandt, R.B., Kruitbosch, C.M., MaassenVanDenBrink, A., Fronczek, R. and Terwindt, G.M., 2021. Clinical symptoms of androgen deficiency in men with migraine or cluster headache: a cross-sectional cohort study. The journal of headache and pain, 22(1), p.125.
Tsujimura, A., 2013. The relationship between testosterone deficiency and men’s health. The world journal of men’s health, 31(2), pp.126-135.
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About the Author: Mike Kocsis
Mike Kocsis has an MBA with a focus on healthcare administration and is an entrepreneur and medical case manager for Balance My Hormones which offers medical services in the UK and Europe. Mike has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, much of that working with people who have hormone imbalances. Mike has appeared on podcasts and radio and is an expert speaker on the subject of hormone imbalance. He specialises in Testosterone Replacement Therapy and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and has helped thousands of people suffering from hormone imbalances recover and regain control of their lives. You can follow him on LinkedIn and on the Balance My Hormones YouTube Channel.
Last update: November 4th, 2025
