Greg Harris
Recently, low testosterone has been attracting renewed attention in wellness communities.
Hormones act like chemical messengers in the body, sending instructions that help regulate everything from energy levels to mood. When testosterone levels drop, it can affect how the body and brain function.
Rather than being seen solely as a sexual function issue, there is wider interest among the public in how low levels of testosterone impact other areas.
Dr. Eric Berg is one of the figures spreading the word about low testosterone and explaining dome of its warning signs. “Testosterone is not just a sex hormone, it’s a metabolic hormone. It also supports dopamine, which is the hormone that gets you to ‘want things’.
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What is testosterone?
Testosterone is a hormone mainly produced in the male testes. It helps support dopamine activity in the brain, influencing motivation, reward-seeking behavior, mood, focus, and overall sense of drive and purpose.
Common signs of low testosterone typically include low sex drive, fatigue, reduced lean muscle mass, irritability, erectile dysfunction, and depression, according to the Urology Care Foundtion.
Dopamine reinforces behaviors by signaling satisfaction and is key to alertness. It is released when the brain anticipates pleasure, motivating you to repeat the behavior.
This connection is important because, Dr. Berg explains that testosterone works closely with dopamine to regulate motivation, reward-seeking behavior, and mood. He emphasizes:
“The most dangerous sign of low testosterone is loss of drive,” Dr. Berg says. “You have less ambition, less motivation, less endurance.”
He adds that the effects extend beyond motivation. “When men lose testosterone as they get older, they kind of lose that ability to get up and go, and that results in more weight gain, more mental sluggishness, and overall lowered health.”
Furthermore, WebMD explains how fatigue can be an effect caused by low testosterone and this could be a feeling of feeling you don’t have the energy to do the things you normally do.
Other effects may include problems focusing, changes in mood, trouble sleeping, loss of bone mass, thinning body hair, more body fat, muscle mass changes, and fuzzy thinking.
For those looking to boost testosterone naturally, Dr. Berg suggests three strategies:
You should consult your doctor before taking any supplements and to discuss prolonged fatigue. You can read more about lower testosterone here.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.