Myths and Facts About Low Testosterone

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Many men, and even some women, experience low levels of the hormone testosterone.

Unfortunately, this often results in uncomfortable physical symptoms like fatigue, sexual dysfunction, loss of muscle mass, difficulty concentrating, and more.

Even worse, misconceptions about low testosterone often keep individuals from seeking the treatment they need to find relief. Here’s a closer look at some of the biggest myths about low testosterone and the facts you need to know.

Myth #1 – Low Testosterone is Normal as You Age

Do you think low testosterone is inevitable as you grow older? That’s a myth, and it keeps many individuals from getting the therapy they require.

While aging does cause testosterone levels to decrease to some extent, some men experience significant drops beneath the healthy range of the hormone.

Truly low testosterone isn’t normal and can result in physical symptoms like low exercise tolerance, muscle mass loss, and fatigue.¹

Other problems that may come with abnormally low testosterone include erectile dysfunction, low sex drive, problems concentration, and depression.

Myth #2 – Aging Men are the Only Ones to Experience Low Testosterone

The facts show that low testosterone can affect men of all ages, not just aging men. Even if you are a younger man, if you have any of the low testosterone symptoms, you should speak to your physician and get tested.²

Myth #3 – Only Sex Drive is Affected by Low Testosterone

In men, low sex drive is often one of the first signs of low levels of testosterone. However, low levels of this hormone are also linked to low energy, lack of motivation, mood swings, and fatigue.

Myth #4 – Low Testosterone Has Nothing to Do with Lifestyle Habits

The facts show that certain lifestyle habits may negatively affect your testosterone levels. Smoking and obesity are both known to interfere with testosterone production.

Studies have shown that diet and exercise for obese or overweight men often increased testosterone levels.³

Myth #5 – Low Testosterone Only Affects Men

While many people think of testosterone as a male hormone, it’s found abundantly in women as well.

Testosterone is critical for female well-being and development, supporting ovulation and contributing to bone health, mood, lean body mass, and cognitive function.

While men usually have higher hormone levels than women do, it is still possible for women to have testosterone levels that are too low, which can be problematic.⁴

Myth #6 – Testosterone Therapy Will Masculinize a Woman

Although substantial doses of testosterone can result in a masculinizing effect, low dose testosterone BHRT treatments can help women with low levels of the hormone get those numbers up to normal levels. If unwanted side effects do occur, they can be reversed by reducing the testosterone dose.⁵

Some women also worry about the hormone causing hair loss, yet raising testosterone levels back to normal may help prevent age-related hair thinning or result in regrowth in women.⁶

Myth #7 – BHRT Testosterone Therapy Isn’t Any Different from Traditional TRT

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy – in this case, testosterone therapy – does differ from traditional testosterone replacement therapy.

Bioidentical hormones come from naturally-occurring sources and are structurally indistinguishable from the hormones naturally produced by your body. This helps reduce the risks and side effects that patients experience while boosting hormone therapy’s effectiveness.

With BHRT, it is possible to restore testosterone levels to normal, which results in benefits such as improved mood, more energy, lower body fat, improved sexual performance, increase in muscle mass, and lower levels of anxiety.

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