If you’re a man experiencing persistent low mood or mild depression, you might not realize that your hormones could be the culprit.
The relationship between hormone levels and mental health is complex, but understanding this connection can be crucial to getting relief.
Men often suffer silently with mood issues, unaware that a treatable hormone imbalance might be causing their mild or moderate depression.
In this article, you’ll learn how testosterone and mood are connected, what low testosterone (low T) can do to your mood, and what you can do about it.
The Testosterone-Mood Connection
Testosterone does much more than just regulate sex drive and muscle mass. This hormone plays a vital role in brain function, particularly in areas that affect mood and mental health.
When testosterone levels drop below optimal ranges (about 300 ng/dL for total testosterone and 9 ng/dL for free testosterone), many men experience psychological symptoms before they notice any physical changes.
The relationship goes both ways—low testosterone can contribute to depression, and depression itself might affect testosterone production, creating a vicious cycle that can be hard to break.
Studies have found that men with low testosterone are up to 4x more likely to be diagnosed with clinical depression compared to men with normal testosterone levels. Even mild low T can impact your quality of life and cause depression.
How Low Testosterone Affects Your Brain
When testosterone levels fall, several brain-related changes occur. The hormone helps regulate neurotransmitters that are critical for helping your brain regulate your mood, including serotonin and dopamine.
Lower testosterone levels can lead to reduced production of these important brain chemicals, affecting everything from how motivated you feel to how easy it is for you to feel happy.
Testosterone also affects energy levels and cognitive function. Many men with low testosterone report feeling brain fog, having difficulty concentrating, and experiencing persistent fatigue.
These symptoms can contribute to or mimic depression, creating a challenging cycle of physical and emotional symptoms, especially if you’re already experiencing a lot of stress.
When testosterone levels are low, your brain may become more sensitive to cortisol and less efficient at managing emotional responses. This can lead to increased anxiety and difficulty coping with everyday challenges.
Common Symptoms of Low Testosterone Affecting Mood
Men experiencing low testosterone often report many different symptoms that can significantly impact their daily lives.
You might feel unusually sad or down without any reason, experiencing what some men describe as a persistent "gray" feeling that colors your entire outlook.
You may experience a loss of drive or motivation, both professionally and personally, finding it harder to engage in activities you once enjoyed (this is known as anhedonia).
Irritability and mood swings are common, as is a general sense of not feeling like yourself. You might find yourself snapping at loved ones more easily, or you might feel overwhelmed by situations you previously handled easily.
The emotional impact often extends beyond just feeling down. Many men report decreased confidence, reduced sense of well-being, and difficulties with stress management.
These mood changes develop gradually, making them easy to dismiss or attribute to other factors, like work stress or aging. This slow progression can make it particularly challenging for men to recognize that their depression might have a hormonal component.
Physical Symptoms That Affect Mental Health
The physical effects of low testosterone can indirectly impact your mental health in a number of ways. Poor sleep quality is a common symptom that can significantly affect mood and emotional resilience.
Reduced muscle mass and increased body fat (especially visceral fat) can affect your self-image and confidence, while decreased strength and stamina might limit physical activities that used to relieve your stress and boost your mood.
Sexual dysfunction or erectile dysfunction, a common symptom of low testosterone, can significantly impact your self-esteem and happiness with your relationship, further contributing to mood problems.
Many men report feeling less confident in their intimate relationships—some even develop performance anxiety—which can create additional stress and emotional challenges.
Andropause: The Male Version of Menopause
While testosterone naturally declines by 1% a year after the age of 30 in a process known as andropause, significant drops can occur at any time. Men in their 30s and 40s increasingly report symptoms of low testosterone, including mood changes.
This earlier onset can be particularly challenging as you don't expect hormonal issues at such a young age, which means you’re more likely to blame something other than your hormones.
The gradual nature of testosterone decline means that many men adapt to progressively worsening symptoms without realizing the underlying cause. You might assume you’re just "getting older" when you’re actually experiencing a treatable hormone imbalance.
This gradual decline can make it difficult to pinpoint when symptoms began and how much they've impacted your quality of life.
Treatment Approaches
If low testosterone is causing your mood problems, you have options. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can eliminate your low T and help you feel like yourself again.
Some men report significant improvements in mood, energy, and overall well-being with TRT, often noticing changes within a few weeks or a few months of starting treatment.
Natural approaches to boosting testosterone can also help. Regular exercise, particularly strength training, can increase testosterone production.
Adequate sleep, stress management, and proper nutrition all play important roles in hormone regulation. For some men, a combination of lifestyle changes and medical treatment provides the best results.
If You’re Experiencing Depression and Have Low T, We May Be Able to Help
If you suspect that you are suffering from low T, your next step is to get your hormone levels tested.
Learn more about TRT here. You can also schedule an appointment with a specialist today to discuss getting your levels tested.