Testosterone shows up as the butt of corny jokes and at the center of health misinformation. Proper management is crucial to long-term health. But you can’t monitor and manage it unless you understand how it impacts your body. Is that fatigue and bad attitude making you and your loved ones miserable? That could be related to your testosterone levels. But with so many myths and misinformation, it is time to understand the truth.
Outdated Ideas Are Everywhere
Certain corners of the internet circulate ideas about the male sex hormone that are outdated and incomplete. There’s nothing funny about being in the dark about your body.
“Testosterone deficiency is common but often undiagnosed and untreated, with many men struggling with symptoms for years before reaching out for healthcare professional Advice,” according to the Journal of Men’s Health. Stigma contributes to the difficulty of getting a diagnosis for low testosterone levels.
Hormones help paint a picture of one’s total health, but they don’t exist in a vacuum.
Diminishing testosterone levels affect all types of people. “No matter what cultural background you come from, testosterone shows no mercy,” Alana Leavell, APRN; FNP-C, Empower Pharmacy, tells Black Health Matters. “Everyone from every culture suffers.”
Here are five testosterone myths you need to know the truth about now so that you can pursue your healthiest life.
1. Testosterone Levels Should Look the Same For Everyone
That guy at your gym, your neighbor, and your cousin the failed athlete? They’re not doctors. If you want to know what’s really going on with your body, you need to look deeper. Testosterone levels are personal. They show up differently in people’s bodies. It is important to find out what is happening inside your body and what works for your body. You have to consider comorbidities. Get individualized testing. Ask questions. Seek second opinions. A personalized approach is crucial to seeking long-term solutions.
2. Sexual Symptoms Are Solo
The most common ideas about testosterone are that it is purely reflected in impotence or infertility. Some people mistakenly believe that diminished sexual desire or execution alone represents lower testosterone levels. That is not true. It goes beyond that.
“Beyond its crucial roles in male sexual function and reproduction, testosterone influences mood, cognition, metabolism, immune function, bone mineral density maintenance, and the cardiovascular system,” according to a 2024 article in the Journal of Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. Those impacted by this can be affected in ways beyond family planning, including a reduced ability to connect physically. They can potentially lose their lives if they are not treated, as “Low testosterone levels can severely affect the health of aging males, increasing the risk of diabetes, dementia, cardiovascular disease, and mortality.”
The slow onset of the symptoms can make them difficult to identify, creating barriers to diagnosis for many men.
Testosterone levels impact every aspect of life. They need to be taken seriously inside and outside of the bedroom.
3. Testosterone Therapy Causes Anger Issues
The stereotype of a grumpy old man is missing some serious context. Grandpa might not just be fed up with everyone; he could be suffering from the effects of lowered testosterone.
“Men with low testosterone often feel down or irritable, or they just don’t feel like themselves, and a lot of times they’re told that’s getting older. But actually, studies show that when you treat low testosterone, their mood actually genuinely improves. It’s not in their head; it’s their hormones, and so a lot of times people get that script flipped,” says Leavell.
Some people believe that seeking help will cause anger issues, but in certain cases, it can help those struggling because of stigma. “They feel like they’re going to develop this emotional aggression related to testosterone,” says Leavell. “That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
In 2016, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that mood could be improved in older men by properly treating their declining testosterone levels. A November 2023 article in Psychoneuroendocrinology pointed out how social factors play into the outcomes of these cases as well, proving that testosterone levels are not the only factor.” “When we replace that aging process, mental health improves significantly. People genuinely feel less depressed,” Leavell added.
