Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLow Testerone and AgeCausesDiagnosisEffectsTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Low Testerone and Age
Causes
Diagnosis
Effects
Treatment
Low testosterone, also called hypogonadism, naturally begins in a man’s 30s. However, younger men can also experience low testosterone, which tends to be related to underlying conditions or injury to the testes.
This article will discuss the causes of low testosterone levels in young males, along with treatment options.
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What’s Considered Young for Low Testosterone Levels?
Testosterone levels naturally decrease as someone ages. It’s normal for levels to start decreasing at 30 years old.
When levels decrease earlier than 30 years, which is considered young, and it may be due to a condition called hypogonadism. This condition can affect people at any age, but when it affects young people it is likely related to acongenital(at birth) or acquired condition that interferes with testosterone production in thetestesor the signal from the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
Causes of Low Testosterone in Younger Males
The causes oflow testosteronein younger males can be broken down into two categories: primary or secondary hypogonadism.
Primary hypogonadism is when there is a problem within the testicles. Secondary hypogonadism is a problem with the signaling in the brain.
Primary Causes of Low Testosterone Levels in Younger Males
Congenital
Congenital primary hypogonadism means there is a problem within the testes since birth. Congenital conditions that can cause hypogonadism are:
Acquired
Acquired primary hypogonadism refers to conditions affecting testicular function that you’re not born with but which occurred later in life. Causes, which include medications that may lead to testicular injury, are:
Secondary Causes of Low T Levels in Younger Males
Obesity
The increase in peoplehaving obesitymay be leading to secondary acquired hypogonadism. A 2019 journal article discussed how 73% of men with low testosterone were overweight or obese. It is not exactly known how extra weight and hypogonadism are related, but it is thought that there is a pituitary inhibition that causes decreased testosterone and, as a result,decreased sperm counts.
Type 2 Diabetes
Another cause of secondary acquired hypogonadism istype 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes has been on the rise in recent years with approximately 1 in 10 people diagnosed with the condition.
Low testosterone levels are common in those with type 2 diabetes. A 2020 journal article reports that about 33% of men with type 2 diabetes have low testosterone.Researchers have found thattype 2 diabetesminimizes pituitary gonadotropin release. This can lead to hypogonadism.
Recreational Drug Use
Chronicrecreational drug use(drugs are taken for enjoyment or their psychoactive effects, not for medical reasons) is another cause of secondary acquired hypogonadism. Research has found that people who take drugs like fentanyl and morphine have a high incidence of androgen deficiency.
Anabolic steroidswere another type of drug that was found to cause hypogonadism in conjunction withsmaller testicular sizeand decreased sperm count.
Environmental Toxins
Exposure to several environmental toxins has been shown to contribute to hypogonadism. These toxins include:
How to Find Out What’s Causing Low T Levels
To diagnose what’s causing low testosterone levels, a healthcare provider would look at a person’s medical history. Many times, it is an underlying health condition that has caused the low testosterone.
Testing is done withblood work. The blood test should be taken between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., or within three hours of waking up. The person should befastingas well.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a testosterone level of less than264 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL)l in males not experiencing obesity is considered low. If the test is low, there will be additional blood testing to determine if it is primary or secondary hypogonadism.
Effects of Low Testosterone in Younger Males
Testosterone in males works in several different ways. Here is what the hormone helps with:
Symptoms of Low TestosteroneIt can be difficult to diagnose low testosterone in younger males becausethe symptoms are vague.Older men may experience erectile dysfunction or decreased libido (sex drive). However, younger men generally do not have these symptoms and experience low energy.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone
It can be difficult to diagnose low testosterone in younger males becausethe symptoms are vague.Older men may experience erectile dysfunction or decreased libido (sex drive). However, younger men generally do not have these symptoms and experience low energy.
It can be difficult to diagnose low testosterone in younger males becausethe symptoms are vague.
Older men may experience erectile dysfunction or decreased libido (sex drive). However, younger men generally do not have these symptoms and experience low energy.
Low Testosterone Treatment in Younger Males
Younger males who find out that they have low testosterone may consider treatment. They may choose to use hormone or non-hormone treatment options.
It is important to note that in people with primary hypogonadism, sperm formation is usually not responsive tohormone therapy. Whereas sperm formation in people with secondary hypogonadism is typically responsive to hormone therapy.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy and FertilityTestosterone replacement therapy will suppress sperm formation and decrease fertility.The benefits and risks of using testosterone replacement therapy need to be heavily considered before treatment begins.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy and Fertility
Testosterone replacement therapy will suppress sperm formation and decrease fertility.The benefits and risks of using testosterone replacement therapy need to be heavily considered before treatment begins.
Hormone Medications
Testosterone replacement therapyis available in several forms like a topical gel, injection, or oral medication. Gels and injections tend to be the most popular routes.
Topical gels should be applied to the arms, shoulders, or abdomen. Injections are given either every week or every other week.
One of the primary risks of hormone replacement therapy is that it imitates the testosterone the body normally produces. As a result, the body then decreases its own production of intratesticular testosterone which impairs sperm production and can result in infertility.
Non-Hormone Options
In cases where someone has low testosterone due to a modifiable underlying condition, one of the first steps would be to treat or manage that condition.
People with low testosterone due to obesity or poorly controlled type 2 diabetes should work with a healthcare provider to manage their condition.
Another way to treat low testosterone without hormones is to improvesleep quality. Research has shown that poor sleep quality has been associated with low testosterone levels.
There are severalnatural testosterone boosterson the market. Make sure to check with a healthcare provider before beginning a new supplement or medication.
Summary
Testosterone levels tend to decrease when a man reaches 30 years of age. However, low testosterone in younger males is typically due to an underlying health condition or an injury. There are hormone and non-hormone treatment options available that a healthcare provider should oversee.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rodrigues dos Santos M, Bhasin S.Benefits and risks of testosterone treatment in men with age-related decline in testosterone.Annu Rev Med. 2021;72(1):75-91. doi:10.1146/annurev-med-050219-034711Cohen J, Nassau DE, Patel P, Ramasamy R.Low testosterone in adolescents & young adults.Front Endocrinol. 2020;10:916. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00916Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.Russo V, Chen R, Armamento-Villareal R.Hypogonadism, type-2 diabetes mellitus, and bone health: a narrative review.Front Endocrinol. 2021;11:607240. doi:10.3389/fendo.2020.607240MedlinePlus.Could you have low testosterone?StatPearls.Hypogonadism.Khodamoradi K, Khosravizadeh Z, Parmar M, Kuchakulla M, Ramasamy R, Arora H.Exogenous testosterone replacement therapy versus raising endogenous testosterone levels: current and future prospects.F&S Reviews. 2021;2(1):32-42. doi:10.1016/j.xfnr.2020.11.001Krzastek SC, Smith RP.Non-testosterone management of male hypogonadism: an examination of the existing literature.Transl Androl Urol. 2020;9(S2):S160-S170. doi:10.21037/tau.2019.11.16
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rodrigues dos Santos M, Bhasin S.Benefits and risks of testosterone treatment in men with age-related decline in testosterone.Annu Rev Med. 2021;72(1):75-91. doi:10.1146/annurev-med-050219-034711Cohen J, Nassau DE, Patel P, Ramasamy R.Low testosterone in adolescents & young adults.Front Endocrinol. 2020;10:916. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00916Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.Russo V, Chen R, Armamento-Villareal R.Hypogonadism, type-2 diabetes mellitus, and bone health: a narrative review.Front Endocrinol. 2021;11:607240. doi:10.3389/fendo.2020.607240MedlinePlus.Could you have low testosterone?StatPearls.Hypogonadism.Khodamoradi K, Khosravizadeh Z, Parmar M, Kuchakulla M, Ramasamy R, Arora H.Exogenous testosterone replacement therapy versus raising endogenous testosterone levels: current and future prospects.F&S Reviews. 2021;2(1):32-42. doi:10.1016/j.xfnr.2020.11.001Krzastek SC, Smith RP.Non-testosterone management of male hypogonadism: an examination of the existing literature.Transl Androl Urol. 2020;9(S2):S160-S170. doi:10.21037/tau.2019.11.16
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Rodrigues dos Santos M, Bhasin S.Benefits and risks of testosterone treatment in men with age-related decline in testosterone.Annu Rev Med. 2021;72(1):75-91. doi:10.1146/annurev-med-050219-034711Cohen J, Nassau DE, Patel P, Ramasamy R.Low testosterone in adolescents & young adults.Front Endocrinol. 2020;10:916. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00916Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.Russo V, Chen R, Armamento-Villareal R.Hypogonadism, type-2 diabetes mellitus, and bone health: a narrative review.Front Endocrinol. 2021;11:607240. doi:10.3389/fendo.2020.607240MedlinePlus.Could you have low testosterone?StatPearls.Hypogonadism.Khodamoradi K, Khosravizadeh Z, Parmar M, Kuchakulla M, Ramasamy R, Arora H.Exogenous testosterone replacement therapy versus raising endogenous testosterone levels: current and future prospects.F&S Reviews. 2021;2(1):32-42. doi:10.1016/j.xfnr.2020.11.001Krzastek SC, Smith RP.Non-testosterone management of male hypogonadism: an examination of the existing literature.Transl Androl Urol. 2020;9(S2):S160-S170. doi:10.21037/tau.2019.11.16
Rodrigues dos Santos M, Bhasin S.Benefits and risks of testosterone treatment in men with age-related decline in testosterone.Annu Rev Med. 2021;72(1):75-91. doi:10.1146/annurev-med-050219-034711
Cohen J, Nassau DE, Patel P, Ramasamy R.Low testosterone in adolescents & young adults.Front Endocrinol. 2020;10:916. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00916
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.
Russo V, Chen R, Armamento-Villareal R.Hypogonadism, type-2 diabetes mellitus, and bone health: a narrative review.Front Endocrinol. 2021;11:607240. doi:10.3389/fendo.2020.607240
MedlinePlus.Could you have low testosterone?
StatPearls.Hypogonadism.
Khodamoradi K, Khosravizadeh Z, Parmar M, Kuchakulla M, Ramasamy R, Arora H.Exogenous testosterone replacement therapy versus raising endogenous testosterone levels: current and future prospects.F&S Reviews. 2021;2(1):32-42. doi:10.1016/j.xfnr.2020.11.001
Krzastek SC, Smith RP.Non-testosterone management of male hypogonadism: an examination of the existing literature.Transl Androl Urol. 2020;9(S2):S160-S170. doi:10.21037/tau.2019.11.16
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