So, what are the symptoms that would indicate that a man may have low testosterone levels? Well, it’s generally a combination of things – I will give a quick rundown of the common symptoms of low T here.
Low Sex Drive
The symptoms of low testosterone levels in men
The first symptom that most people think of when you say ‘low testosterone’ is a reduced libido. From my experience, when you have low T you just don’t really think about sex much at all. It generally bothers the man suffering from low T much less than it bothers his partner.
For our female readers (yeah, we get a lot of them), I would give this advice:
If you are in a relationship with a man aged over 35 and he doesn’t want sex anymore, get his T levels checked. When a guy with low T gets his T level in check he can literally go from ‘birthday and Valentines day’ to almost every day within a month. It’s really that striking.
Erectile Dysfunction
Got ED? Before you reach for the Viagra, try getting your T level checked first.
The penis actually contains testosterone receptors – they are located in the ‘corpora cavernosa’, which are the chambers which control an erection. One study has shown that testosterone therapy resolved ED issues in one third of men who tried it. Why was this study not bigger news? Probably because the drug companies can make more money selling you Viagra and Cialis.
Lack of Energy/Depression/Brain Fog
I have already written a fair bit about depression and brain fog.
These are the symptoms that nobody seems to talk about, even though plenty of studies have definitively proven the link. This was the most striking difference for me when I started testosterone therapy – within a few weeks my mood improved dramatically and my brain just worked ‘quicker’. It was literally like a curtain being lifted.
Decreased Muscle/Increased Fat
Low testosterone causes obesity, and obesity causes low testosterone. I wrote about this vicious cycle here. Numerous studies have proven that men who start testosterone therapy gain muscle and lose fat very quickly.
So, there you have it. If you are a man aged over 35 (maybe even 30) and you have any of these symptoms, you should get your testosterone level checked. I know, you’re a man and you hate going to the doctor, but this is totally worth it. I even tell you exactly which tests to ask for in my ‘newbie guide‘.
You have everything that you need to take action! What are you waiting for? You can discuss hormone testing with the community at meHacker.com.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
What kind of a sample should I give the lab? I do not understand.
Hi there,
You should read this entry which explains low testosterone testing. At the end of the article there is a link to the specific test that you can either ask your doctor for, or order online. It’s for ‘total testosterone’ and ‘free testosterone’. The lab will tell you if you fall below the reference ranges.
Hope that this helps – please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance with this.
– Mark
i am sure my husband suffers from “low T” but he won’t even consider that i am right & turns things around on me & my drinking. I am quite attractive w/ good body etc, yet he never says anything & seems to care less about sex w/ me. Yet I am aware that I am hot & everybody else…but him…tells me so. How can I convince him to get the help he needs? Yes , I drink, but only HE makes an issue of it & he blows it way out of proportion & is both mentally /physically abusive towards me
Hi n,
Wow, I really don’t have a good answer for this. If you suspect he has low T, then that’s a medical problem, and I would say ‘how would you approach him about getting help if you thought he had cancer’? It’s the same deal – it’s a medical condition that is not his fault, so bear that in mind when you approach the subject and see if it changes how you guys interact?
One other thought – you can test a guy’s testosterone level at home using test kits from folks like ZRT labs. Maybe you should just ask him if he would give you a sample in the privacy of your own home and that you will deal with it? Going to the doctor is the big barrier for guys. We really hate it.
I’m thinking that I need to create a forum where other people can talk about these types of problems – I actually get lots of messages from women via the ‘contact me’ page with exactly the same problem, and it feels like we need a community where you can help each other. One of you will crack this problem, and it would be great if you could share. I’ll look into this over the next few weeks. If nothing else, the forum would provide a place for women who aren’t getting any to be hit on by guys who are on testosterone therapy?
Take care – keep me posted!
I think my dad has “LowT” because he has two of the symptoms and is also an asshole when he comes hoe and takes it out on me and I think he might have Low T…oh and he is imature too!