By Mike Kocsis | 7 minutes read | Last updated: June 9, 2025 Categories: Testosterone
Medically Reviewed by Dr. George Touliatos
Testosterone levels naturally decline as men age, but younger men can also have low testosterone (male hypogonadism) due to multiple reasons.
Having low testosterone levels can cause issues like a lack of energy, fatigue, low sex drive, and reduced muscle mass.
The treatment for low testosterone in 20s depends on its cause. If your testosterone deficiency and associated symptoms are due to a poor lifestyle, then changing habits may help. But if the cause is testicular injury, etc., doctors may prescribe testosterone replacement therapy.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about low testosterone in your 20s.
What is the connection between low testosterone and age?
Reduction in testosterone levels is a normal part of ageing.
Studies show that testosterone decreases by 1% each year when men cross 30. It is totally normal and does not cause any issues or signs.
This also indicates why older men mostly have lower testosterone than younger men.
Can you have low testosterone in your 20s?
Yes, although rare, but men can have low testosterone in their 20s.
Most men have normal and stable testosterone levels (ranging from 300 to 1,000 ng/dL throughout their 20s. But some can develop testosterone issues due to one reason or another.
If the cause of low T is temporary, the issue will most likely resolve on its own. But if a medical condition is causing low T, you may require a proper check-up and treatment.
Check out our video on low testosterone in young males.
How common is low testosterone in 20s?
Low testosterone in 20s is uncommon, affecting less than 1% of young males. In fact, it is the age when testosterone is at its highest in most men.
But if you are experiencing low testosterone signs and they are impacting your life, you should consult with a healthcare professional to find a solution.
Why is testosterone so important for men?
Testosterone is the main sex hormone in men. However, it is responsible for much more than just reproduction.
What many people aren’t aware of is that testosterone is actually responsible for dozens of different functions within the body, including:
- Sexual function
- Bone density
- Muscle mass and strength
- Mood and mental health
- Body hair growth
- Red blood cell production
- Cardiovascular health
That is why, normal testosterone levels are absolutely essential for men to maintain their basic health needs.
Due to testosterone deficiency, they can suffer many negative health effects that lead to the symptoms.
What are the signs of low testosterone in men in 20s?
Low testosterone signs can vary from one man to another.
Some advertisements may make you feel that simply having a lack of motivation or energy is low T. In reality, this is not the case. Low T can manifest in a variety of ways, and it is more than having low energy levels.
Most men experience the following symptoms of low testosterone, no matter what their age is:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Decreased libido
- Male infertility
- Hair loss
- Lowered muscle mass
- Lowered endurance
- Increased body fat
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Increase in breast size (gynecomastia or male breasts)
- Sleep issues
You can experience one or a mixture of many of these symptoms if you have low testosterone in your 20s.
Since low T is rare in the 20s, it can often be misdiagnosed as other conditions with similar symptoms, like depression or anxiety.
What causes low testosterone in 20s?
Low testosterone in young males can happen either due to poor lifestyle habits or a medical condition.
The following habits may lead to low testosterone in the 20s:
- Poor diet
- Sleep deprivation
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Lack of physical activity
- Stress
- Obesity
In addition to this, the following medical conditions can also contribute to decreased testosterone in young men:
Primary hypogonadism – It happens when the testes fail to produce enough testosterone even after receiving signals from the brain.
Its causes include: Klinefelter syndrome, undescended testes, infections, testicular injury or trauma, cancer treatments (radiation therapy or chemotherapy), prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
Secondary hypogonadism – It is when the brain does not send proper signals to the testes to produce testosterone.
Causes of secondary hypogonadism are: Hypothalamic disorders, pituitary gland issues, obesity, diabetes, sleep disorders, drug abuse and certain medications.
How is low testosterone diagnosed?
If you are experiencing low T signs as explained above, you should discuss them with your healthcare provider.
They will ask you a few questions to understand your symptoms and medical history.
If their analysis indicates you are testosterone deficient, they will ask you to have a testosterone blood test to diagnose low testosterone. They may request a few other tests like luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin tests to identify the low T cause.
Since testosterone levels fluctuate throughout the day, your doctor may ask you to have two testosterone blood tests taken at different times.
How to treat low testosterone in 20s?
In young males and adolescents, doctors mostly start with lifestyle changes. They will tell you to eat healthy or testosterone boosting foods, exercise regularly, get quality sleep, manage stress and maintain a healthy weight.
In most cases (if the testosterone levels are not drastically low), these lifestyle changes will help improve testosterone production naturally.
But if the case is severe or natural methods to increase testosterone do not work, your endocrinologist may prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)
Testosterone therapy is an approved medical treatment used for men with hypogonadism regardless of their age.
It involves taking supplemental testosterone to restore serum testosterone levels. TRT in the UK is available in multiple forms, including testosterone injections, creams, gels, patches, and tablets.
TRT comes with some side effects, including a reduction in sperm production/ sperm count and infertility, which is why it may not be an ideal treatment for men in 20s.
Some of its side effects, such as infertility, are tackled with medications like HCG (which is taken to improve fertility by increasing body’s natural production of testosterone) while others are assessed through regular TRT monitoring.
Your doctor will assess the pros and cons of TRT for your particular case before deciding whether you are the right candidate or not.
How to prevent low testosterone in younger males?
Age-related testosterone reduction is inevitable, typically starting around the age of 30.
However, men in their 20s have not yet entered that phase of life, so they can take the following proactive steps to maintain optimal testosterone levels.
- Sleep for 8 hours every night.
- Do high-intensity interval training (HIIT), strength training, and cardiovascular exercises on a regular basis.
- Eat a balanced, healthy diet.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Limit your alcohol or drug use.
- Manage daily stress through basic exercises like deep breathing.
- Minimise exposure to endocrine disrupters (chemicals that can cause hormonal imbalance) and environmental toxins.
When to see a doctor for low testosterone?
Low testosterone can impact a young male’s life in various ways, such as:
- You might lack the motivation to do things you used to enjoy doing.
- Your sex drive is not as high as it used to be.
- You feel exhausted even after sleeping throughout the night.
- Your body seems to resist building muscle.
- You snap at people for no particular reason, or your mood is low most of the time.
- Your level of concentration and focus has reduced significantly.
If your low T symptoms are negatively influencing your life, get yourself checked by a healthcare provider to restore your health.
Get help from Balance My Hormones
If you believe you are suffering from low testosterone, meet one of our expert testosterone doctors now. Contact Balance My Hormones via phone or use the live chat option displayed at the bottom right of the screen.
Our consultations are free, and there is no obligation to move forward with any TRT treatment.
Our doctors will always advise you on whether they think you are a suitable candidate for testosterone for men or not. And this is done through the initial consultation and optional blood testing.
References
Pencina, K.M., Travison, T.G., Cunningham, G.R., Lincoff, A.M., Nissen, S.E., Khera, M., Miller, M.G., Flevaris, P., Li, X., Wannemuehler, K. and Bhasin, S., 2024. Effect of testosterone replacement therapy on sexual function and hypogonadal symptoms in men with hypogonadism. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 109(2), pp.569-580.
Zhu, A., Andino, J., Daignault-Newton, S., Chopra, Z., Sarma, A. and Dupree, J.M., 2022. What is a normal testosterone level for young men? Rethinking the 300 ng/dL cutoff for testosterone deficiency in men 20-44 years old. The Journal of urology, 208(6), pp.1295-1302.
Cohen, J., Nassau, D.E., Patel, P. and Ramasamy, R., 2020. Low testosterone in adolescents & young adults. Frontiers in endocrinology, 10, p.916.
Evidence Based Research
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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: June 9th, 2025
