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Published on: 8/20/2026

What could cause simultaneous feelings of depression and fatigue, and is low testosterone a contributing factor?

Depression and fatigue have many possible causes, including stress, poor sleep, hormonal shifts, nutritional deficiencies, and underlying medical conditions. Research shows that low testosterone may contribute to these symptoms in some people, but it is just one of many potential factors.

Because the causes overlap and symptoms can mimic each other, self-diagnosing is difficult—and guessing wrong can delay the right treatment. The fastest way to get clarity is to review your symptoms against known medical conditions using an AI-powered tool built by doctors. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand what may be driving how you feel and identify the smartest next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

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Explanation

Feeling down and tired at the same time can happen for many reasons. One possibility is that your body hormones are not balanced. Studies show that low testosterone levels may sometimes contribute to feelings of depression, especially in men and older adults. Testosterone is a hormone that helps keep our bodies and minds working well. When its levels drop, people might feel low in energy and sad. However, fatigue and depression can also be linked to other causes such as stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, sleep issues, or other illnesses.

It is important to remember that each person can have different reasons leading to these feelings. While low testosterone may be a factor for some, it is usually not the only cause. Understanding and treating both symptoms often means looking at overall health, lifestyle, and sometimes other medical conditions. If you or someone you know experiences ongoing depression and fatigue, you can start by using Ubie's free AI-powered symptom checker to help identify possible causes, and then talk to a healthcare provider for a full evaluation and advice.

(References)

  • Määttänen I, Gluschkoff K, Komulainen K, Airaksinen J, Savelieva K, García-Velázquez R, Jokela M. Testosterone and specific symptoms of depression: Evidence from NHANES 2011-2016. Compr Psychoneuroendocrinol. 2021 Mar 10;6:100044. doi: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100044. PMID: 35757365; PMCID: PMC9216439.

  • Indirli R, Lanzi V, Arosio M, Mantovani G, Ferrante E. The association of hypogonadism with depression and its treatments. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Aug 10;14:1198437. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1198437. PMID: 37635965; PMCID: PMC10449581.

  • Kheirkhah F, Hosseini SR, Hosseini SF, Ghasemi N, Bijani A, G Cumming R. Relationship between testosterone levels and depressive symptoms in older men in Amirkola, Iran. Caspian J Intern Med. 2014 Spring;5(2):65-70. PMID: 24778779; PMCID: PMC3992230.

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