The Low Testosterone Crisis: 17 Causes You Need to Know About

We’re in the midst of a testosterone crisis. Alarmingly, the average levels of this crucial male hormone have been plummeting, with one seminal study reporting a staggering 1% annual decline in average testosterone levels since the late 20th century.Travison, T. G., Araujo, A. B., O’Donnell, A. B., Kupelian, V., & McKinlay, J. B. (2007). A population-level decline in serum testosterone levels in American men. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 92(1), 196-202. This decline isn’t just a number; it’s a reality affecting men’s health, well-being, and quality of life. Lower testosterone levels have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, decreased muscle mass, diminished cognitive function, and even a reduced lifespan.Araujo, A. B., Esche, G. R., Kupelian, V., O’Donnell, A. B., Travison, T. G., Williams, R. E., … & McKinlay, J. B. (2007). Prevalence of symptomatic androgen deficiency in men. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 92(11), 4241-4247. So, to call it a “crisis” is no exaggeration at all. You’re in the right place if you’re concerned about low testosterone or suspect you may be part of this growing trend. This article breaks down the 17 leading causes of low testosterone—all supported by scientific evidence. It’s actionable, understandable information that you can use to take charge of your health. 1. Aging By the time you hit 30, your testosterone levels could start to decline by around 1% each year.Harman, S. M., Metter, E. J., Tobin, J. D., Pearson, J., & Blackman, M. R. (2001). Longitudinal effects of aging on serum total and free testosterone levels in healthy men. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 86(2), 724-731. Why does this happen? Simply put, it’s due to a slowdown in testicular function coupled with a decrease in the responsiveness to luteinizing hormone (LH). LH acts like a messenger, telling your testes to produce testosterone. As you age, this messaging system gets a bit sluggish, causing the testes to produce less testosterone.Wu, F. C., Tajar, A., Pye, S. R., Silman, A. J., Finn, J. D., O’Neill, T. W., … & Lean, M. E. (2008). Hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis disruptions in older men are differentially linked to age and modifiable risk factors: the European Male Aging Study. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 93(7), 2737-2745. A 1% drop might not sound like much initially, but consider this: by the time you’re 50, you could be looking at a decline of 20% or more. That’s significant. Lower testosterone levels can lead to diminished energy, less muscle mass, a decreased sex drive, and even mood swings. Over time, this could affect your quality of life. You can’t stop the clock, but you can buffer its effects. Supplements, nutrition, and exercise can all slow the loss significantly, but an intense resistance training program is one of the most effective.Vingren, J. L., Kraemer, W. J., Ratamess, N. A., Anderson, J. M., Volek, J. S., & Maresh, C. M. (2010). Testosterone physiology in resistance exercise and training. Sports Medicine, 40(12), 1037-1053. 2. Excess Body Fat When it comes to testosterone, carrying excess weight is like a double-edged sword. On one end, body fat—especially abdominal fat—contains an enzyme called aromatase that converts testosterone into estrogen, the primary female sex hormone.Cooke, P. S., Nanjappa, M. K., Ko, C., Prins, G. S., & Hess, R. A. (2017). Estrogens in Male Physiology. Physiological reviews, 97(3), 995–1043. So the more fat you have, the more of your limited testosterone is converted into estrogen. This inevitably leads to even lower levels of free testosterone in the body. On the other end, low testosterone can lead to an in