Low testosterone levels affect more than men’s sexual health. According to a new study it can also increase the risk of depression in men.
Based on a new study, depression in men can be associated with low levels of testosterone. It had been found that more than 50% of these males with low testosterone levels suffered from depression, or at least had experienced symptoms of it. Of those who had been diagnosed, 25 % were being treated for it with medication.
Low Testosterone Levels = Depression
So why would lower testosterone levels lead to depression? Testosterone is important for the healthy aging in men. Testosterone is the main sex hormone developed by the testicles and it plays an important role in men’s health. Testosterone is a determinant of muscle strength, bone density, libido, pubic hair and sperm production. Therefore, if those things are not up to standard, it can lead to psychological issues.
Even blood tests remain inconclusive when it comes to the amount which is necessary, especially since the amount changes as a man ages, reaching its peak during adolescence, then gradually dropping normally about 1 % annually after the age of 30 or 40, as outlined by the Mayo Clinic’s website.
A new study was conducted with 200 men, all with the average age of 48. A blood test had been taken which indicated that these men all had low testosterone levels (between 200 and 350 ng/dL) and therefore all of them had been referred to an endocrinologist.
Furthermore, the researchers took a look at these men’s demographic information, the medication or treatment they use, their medical histories and the signs and symptoms of hypogonadism.
In addition, they look at whether these men had been suffering from depression or if they took any anti-depressants, and those that were not diagnosed with depression or took any medication for the condition had to answer standardized test questions geared towards determining their mood.
The information from the new research discovered that these same men who were being affected by depression as a result of lower levels of testosterone, also had lower rates of physical activity and higher rates of obesity compared to the healthy average male.
These participants had also been afflicted with erectile dysfunction, low libido, fewer morning erections, low energy levels and sleep disorders. The rate of depression for the participants fluctuated between 62 and 65 %, depending on age, with the elderly group suffering more.
In a statement (The Journal of Sexual Medicine Volume 12) made by study researcher Dr. Michael Irwig, an associate professor of medicine and director of the Center for Andrology at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C., he said,” there is not enough information about men with borderline low levels of testosterone, especially in this time where a growing number of men are being tested for low testosterone levels also referred to as ” Low T”.
While the authors of the study confessed they needed more research in this area, there was a direct link between depression and “Low T, and this should be recognized by physicians and other medical experts, especially in men suffering from low testosterone levels.
In addition, the researchers explained that these low testosterone levels can be treated with Testosterone replacement therapy. Researchers also reported that men believed that these low testosterone levels could be the underlying cause for their low energy levels and lack of sexual interest.
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