Start with a blood test
By Mike Kocsis | 7 minutes read | Last updated: November 2, 2020 Categories: Lifestyle Low testosterone Testosterone
Medically Reviewed by Dr. George Touliatos
If you have low testosterone, then you are probably looking out for all you can learn about low testosterone. You likely want to learn what causes it, how it can be treated, and what the possible side effects are.
Perhaps the most important information that you will need to know is the causes of low testosterone. If you understand the causes, then you will have a far better chance of addressing the challenges that you face with success. This will help you to form a treatment plan and communicate with your medical professional about what you are experiencing.
If you are looking to find out more about the causes of low testosterone, then you are in the right place. This complete knowledge guide will walk you through the information that you need to know and it’s effect on the body.
Why is testosterone important?
In order to fully understand the effects that low testosterone (low-T) has on the body, you must know more about why it is important and what role it plays in the body. Testosterone is a hormone that is present in both men and women, but it is most prominent in men and is crucial for a number of body processes and normal bodily functions.
With a testosterone level that is too low, you will find it increasingly common to experience symptoms such as fatigue, decreased sex drive, inability to achieve and maintain an erection, and other side effects that would not be considered to be pleasant. With the right treatment, however, these symptoms can be overcome and you can achieve the right amount of testosterone in the body.
For this to happen, however, you will need to know the causes of low T so that you can address the condition at its root and ensure you no longer have to live with the symptoms.
Potential causes of low testosterone
Though understanding the science behind testosterone is somewhat easy, knowing what exactly the root cause is in any given person is a unique challenge. The main reason that it is so difficult is that there are a variety of factors that can contribute to low T in any given person. If you want to pin down the exact reason, you will need to be well-versed in the various causes of low testosterone.
Here are some of the most common causes. With this knowledge in hand, you could be that much closer to treating your low-T and the symptoms that come along with it.
Table of factors that cause low testosterone:
| Medical causes of Low Testosterone | Lifestyle causes of Low Testosterone |
| Hypogonadism | Stress |
| Cancer | Lack of exercise |
| Injury to testes | Obesity |
| Metabolic disorders | Poor diet |
| Medication | Alcohol abuse |
| HIV/AIDS | NAFLD |
Medical Conditions
The first cause that could be influencing your testosterone levels is medical conditions. Medical conditions are very common contributors to low-T and are commonly associated with low-T symptoms. Here are some of the medical conditions that are well-known to contribute to low-T and its symptoms.
Hypogonadism
The first medical condition that has been tied to low-T and by far the most common is hypogonadism. Hypogonadism refers to a condition in which the body is unable to produce enough testosterone to maintain healthy levels. This condition affects the centre of the testosterone production system. It strikes right at the core of testosterone production and is most commonly a factor that affects those of a younger age.
If you are a male who’s below the age of 40 and you are having low-T challenges, then the chances are that it is because of hypogonadism. This condition tends to affect those who are younger and have no other reason to have low-T. If you are experiencing low-T and are below the age at which a natural decline would begin, then you should consider hypogonadism as the potential cause and speak with your medical professional about treating hypogonadism.
Cancer/Disease Treatments
Another potential medical condition that leads to low-T is any strenuous treatment on the body for another condition such as cancer and other disease treatments. While cancer treatments are effective in treating cancer, they can have very heavy effects on the rest of the body. Those who are going through cancer treatments are known to have problems with testosterone levels.
If you are going through a treatment that is harsh on the body, then you might also experience low-T. Testosterone replacement therapy can sometimes be a solution for this, but usually, the only way to stop the effect is to cease the treatment, which is certainly almost never an option. You should speak with your medical professional to inquire about possible paths forward to overcome this challenge.
External Factors
Aside from medical conditions, external factors are known to be just as likely to affect testosterone levels. These can include many risk factors and mostly have to do with physical health and lifestyle choices that are made. Low-T is not always a symptom that is beyond the control of the patient. Oftentimes, it is due to a lifestyle or condition of health that is less than optimal for healthy testosterone production. Here are some of the lifestyle risk factors that can contribute to low testosterone.
Stress
The first external factor that can certainly influence testosterone levels is stress. Stress plays a large role in testosterone production and hormonal health. Now more than ever, stress permeates every part of our lives and can have devastating effects if not managed in a healthy and correct manner.
When you are stressed and there is no good mechanism for dealing with stress, it can certainly affect your testosterone levels. The body doesn’t deal with large amounts of stress for prolonged periods of time very well, and when you are stressed about life events or you are not getting enough sleep, it won’t take long to show.
If you believe that you have higher than normal levels of stress and you are experiencing low testosterone, then one of the first things that you should try is to lower the amount of stress in your life or try a new method for managing stress that will allow your body to be under less duress.
Exercise
While many people don’t realize it, the amount of exercise that you get can directly correlate to your level of testosterone. Those who get a lot of exercise and are in good physical condition will likely not have issues with testosterone production as a result of their physical fitness. However, those who do not get enough exercise are far more prone to low testosterone.
If you are in poor physical condition, one of the first things that you should do is get more exercise. This could very well unlock your potential when it comes to testosterone production and provide you with the healthy lifestyle that is recommended for those who want to have normal testosterone production.
Diet
As you know, physical fitness has a lot to do with testosterone production. That includes not only exercise but also your diet. In conjunction with getting more exercise and managing stress, a key part of the strategy is eating foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals and avoiding processed food as much as possible. With improved dieting habits, you will be putting yourself in the best position possible when it comes to testosterone production and physical fitness.
Determining the cause of your low testosterone
The best way to determine which of the potential causes you are suffering from is to do a simple analysis of your physical condition. If there are no glaring issues, then the cause is likely medical. improve some lifestyle choices, you might see an improvement in the side effects.
If no amount of action on your part improves the condition, then it’s time to see a professional and enlist their help in pursuing the exact cause of your low testosterone. Balance My Hormones can provide advanced blood tests for testosterone, get in touch if you would like to understand every aspect of your testosterone levels.
What to do next about low testosterone
Now that you know about the potential causes of low testosterone, you are ready to move on with the next steps. Especially if you are currently experiencing low testosterone, you are probably eager to learn about what comes next. For many, the first thing that you should do is record your side effects to narrow down the exact cause of their low testosterone. Once you are able to do that, you should consult a medical professional that specializes in low-T such as Balance My Hormones.
If you want success with treating low-T and addressing the causes of low testosterone, then you should seek to work with a reputable and experienced medical consultant who can provide you with personalized care and get down to the exact root cause of your low testosterone.
Evidence Based Research
This article has been researched and written based on scientific evidence and fact sheets that have then been crossed checked by our team of doctors and subject matter experts.
References, sources and studies used alongside our own in-house research have been cited below, most of which contain external clickable links to reviewed scientific paper that contain date stamped evidence.
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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 Ltd 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 (TRT) 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 2nd, 2020
