Low testosterone levels can mimic symptoms of depression and cause anxiety over time if left untreated. A urologist explains how these conditions relate to one another.
It may come as a surprise, but low testosterone can be linked to sudden bouts of anxiety and the 'sense of impending doom', which can escalate to panic attacks .
In general, testosterone appears to be most effective in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and/or depression in older hypogonadal men, but risk factors must also be assessed.
The hormone also plays a role in your state of mind, including how well your brain works. That's why low testosterone has been linked with symptoms such as mood swings, increased stress, and depression.
Fatigue is a common effect of low testosterone. You might feel like you just don't have the energy that you're used to. Or you might be incredibly tired. But many other things can sap your energy, too, including normal aging and depression.
Untreated testosterone deficiency will greatly increase your risk for developing heart disease, osteoporosis, and other age-related diseases.
Most men feel improvement in symptoms within four to six weeks of taking testosterone replacement therapy, although changes like increases in muscle mass may take from three to six months.
Testosterone replacement therapy, in the form of injections, pellets, patches or gels, can improve the signs and symptoms of low testosterone in these men.
Exercise. A combination of aerobic (increase in heart rate) and resistance (weightlifting) training has been found to increase the production of testosterone. This also helps prevent the most common diseases that men are most likely to die from, heart disease and cancer.
Sex Hormones (Testosterone, Estrogen)
Stress and sex hormones can also have a combined effect on anxiety. For example, when you experience stress, cortisol increases, which slows your body's ability to make testosterone. The combined effect of increased cortisol and lowered testosterone may make you feel more anxious.
Anxiety can be caused by an imbalance in two key hormones, serotonin and cortisol. Imbalances of these important chemical messengers disrupt the brain chemistry and nervous system which regulate our moods, stress levels, and emotions.
If you're having frequent panic attacks or feel like your anxiety is particularly high, talk to your doctor about your thyroid. Thyroid hormones play a significant role in anxiety: your thyroid-stimulating hormone (often called TSH) levels directly correlate with the severity of panic attacks.
Can Testosterone Cause Anxiety? The jury is still out on whether testosterone causes anxiety. Research suggests that sex hormones, such as testosterone, affect brain development and organization during puberty. For guys, these changes are thought to create high levels of anxiety (6).
The drop in estrogen and progesterone that occurs at the end of a women's menstrual cycle may cause anxiety and other mood symptoms. This is similar to the drop experienced during perimenopause, the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause.
Low Testosterone can Occur Because of Aging or an Underlying Condition. While getting older is generally the main cause of low testosterone in many men, low T levels can also be a symptom of other underlying conditions or comorbidities.
Testosterone levels naturally decline as you age. While testosterone therapy can be an option, it has disadvantages as well. Some older men on testosterone therapy could face increased cardiac risks. You may be interested in natural testosterone boosters instead.
If you're dealing with depression, reduced sex drive, or other health problems, you might need to take a look at your testosterone levels. Low levels of testosterone can have multiple negative effects on your health and quality of life.
Though categorized as a male hormone, women also have testosterone, but in a much lower concentration than men. Research studies show that low testosterone in both men and women can result in physical and emotional symptoms such as depression.
While testosterone definitely plays a role in your sexual function, many men with low levels of testosterone (also referred to as low-T or hypogonadism) can get erections just fine.
A simple blood test can confirm your testosterone level. The bottom of a man's normal total testosterone range is about 300 ng/dL, and the upper limit is about 800ng/dL, depending on the lab. In general, levels below 300 ng/dL combined with symptoms are indicators of testosterone deficiency.