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Can low testosterone cause anxiety? Read further to find out.
Surely, most men are quite intuned with their biological clocks. A lot of men experience a decline in their physical capabilities around middle age. This time period can be anywhere from the late thirties to the seventies. During this point, men start to lose their muscle tone and start gaining fat. Most men don’t like to admit it but they might experience less zest for intimate moments.
All of these changes are expected as men age. Although, most of them are unwelcomed. These changes can be attributed to low testosterone levels which decrease with age. It happens to all the men. However, some men have low testosterone levels as compared to others. If that’s the case, other problems such as erectile dysfunction, mood swings, depression, and anxiety can also occur.
Research shows that men with lower testosterone levels than normal and those entering their middle age are at an increased risk of depression and anxiety. Low levels of testosterone levels coincide with an increased risk of depression and anxiety. The silver lining in all of this is treating hypogonadism will have an improved effect on your mental health.
In the modern-day, millions of people are battling mental health issues. The same is the case with low testosterone levels. That is the reason researchers are analyzing the potential relationship between the two.
How Testosterone Affects the Body and Mind?
In order to understand how your mind and body work, it is important to know that testosterone is an androgen that is associated with the testicles and pituitary gland. This hormone is responsible for a lot of good feelings and responses in men and women. For men, it is a source of muscle tone, strength, sex drive, bone density, body fat distribution, and sperm production. Low levels of testosterone translate to an increased risk of ED, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, low libido, depression, and anxiety.
Testosterone is a neuroactive hormone. It has a significant effect on the functionality of your central nervous system. It can lead to mood swings, stress, depression, and anxiety. These have been approved by science. Several animal studies show that increased testosterone coincides with increased serotonin known as the happy hormone. It makes great sense from a biological perspective.
Can Low Testosterone Lead to Anxiety or Depression?
Your age might have an outsized effect on whether low levels of testosterone can lead to depression and anxiety or not. It is important to understand that low T levels are not always associated with age and can occur at any point. Although, it typically happens to middle-aged or older men. Most men with Low T levels showcase various symptoms of depression and anxiety. A study done in Toronto indicated that men who were diagnosed with depression had lower amounts of bioavailable testosterone and lower T throughout their bloodstreams.
Another study done in Washington indicated that nearly half of the men dealing with borderline average T levels also struggle with depression. As per a study published by Psychology Today, some depressed men who don’t have a family history of depression and anxiety deal with hypogonadism. Figuring out which one of these two problems rose first is a difficult task. Low T, depression, and anxiety share the following symptoms: fatigue, anxiety, irritability, lack of focus, difficulties with memory, insomnia, and low libido. The only difference between mental health problems and low T levels is weight gain and loss of muscle mass which are mainly associated with low levels of testosterone.
On the other hand, people dealing with depression and anxiety mainly report physical problems like headaches, body aches, and a fast heartbeat. It is very important to distinguish between the two. Hence, it is important to consult your doctor and get a potential screening done for both.
Treating Low Testosterone and Depression/Anxiety
If the potential symptoms and causes are shared between your mental health challenges and low testosterone levels, the treatments might overlap as well. However, it is not always the case. For instance, certain anti-depressants lower testosterone levels and result in sexual dysfunction. On the other hand, testosterone replacement therapy is a very effective option to fight both hypogonadism and depression, and anxiety.
After reviewing 27 clinical trials, it was concluded that men who underwent TRT treatment showed significant improvements in the symptoms of depression and anxiety as compared to the control group that was treated with placebo.
Moreover, the review suggests that TRT is hands down one of the most effective treatments for depression in middle-aged men who had lower testosterone levels. It is important to note that TRT is more effective in men dealing with less severe depression.
Through these studies, we can conclude that a combination of TRT along with certain drugs dedicated to improving mental health can greatly improve the quality of life for men dealing with depression and anxiety. With that being said, a complete physical examination and blood work are necessary to make the final call for men dealing with Low T or depression and anxiety.
It is also important to know that men undergoing TRT won’t start to see positive results for quite some time. This time period varies between 2 weeks to three months for most men. Moreover, TRT is not the only viable method to increase testosterone levels. Synthetic T can also be administered with the help of an injection or less invasive means; cream, skin patch, or a gel.
On the other hand, treatment for depression and anxiety can be quite varied; group/individual/couple therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy, meditation, prescribed medication, or a combination of the above.
Final Takeaway
While low testosterone levels can induce depression and anxiety in men, it is not the only cause. Sometimes, fixing low T will automatically fix mental health challenges. However, in some cases, these two conditions have to be treated separately. There are times when men with high levels of testosterone also experience depression and anxiety.
Hence, the best way to determine the ideal treatment is to visit your doctor and get a proper diagnosis. I hope you found this article helpful. If you have any further questions, reach out to us.