How Does Low Testosterone Affect Motivation and Energy Levels in Men?

Reviewed by Garrett Kneese, MD, MPH

Family Medicine

Low testosterone can make men feel less motivated and lower their energy because this hormone helps keep our bodies active and our moods bright.

Explanation

Testosterone is a hormone that helps our bodies in many ways. When a man has low testosterone, it can affect his energy levels and makeup his desire to do things. Men might feel tired, like they don't have the usual spark to start or finish tasks, and may feel less motivated in daily activities. This happens because testosterone helps support the brain and body in staying active and happy. Without enough testosterone, energy levels drop and mood changes may occur. This is similar to how you might feel when you don’t get enough sleep or miss a good meal; everything feels slower, and your body just isn’t as eager to move. Besides low testosterone, many things, like stress or not enough sleep, can add to these feelings. If these changes make daily life harder, it is a good idea to speak with a doctor. They can help decide if low testosterone is a part of the problem and suggest ways to feel better, including lifestyle changes and possibly treatments.

(References)

Straftis AA, Gray PB. Sex, Energy, Well-Being and Low Testosterone: An Exploratory Survey of U.S. Men's Experiences on Prescription Testosterone. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Sep 5;16(18):3261. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16183261. PMID: 31491933; PMCID: PMC6765788.
Cohen J, Nassau DE, Patel P, Ramasamy R. Low Testosterone in Adolescents & Young Adults. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020 Jan 10;10:916. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00916. Erratum in: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020 Jul 14;11:449. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00449. PMID: 32063884; PMCID: PMC6966696.
Zitzmann M. Testosterone, mood, behaviour and quality of life. Andrology. 2020 Nov;8(6):1598-1605. doi: 10.1111/andr.12867. Epub 2020 Jul 30. PMID: 32657051.
Munari EV, Amer M, Amodeo A, Bollino R, Federici S, Goggi G, Giovanelli L, Persani L, Cangiano B, Bonomi M. The complications of male hypogonadism: is it just a matter of low testosterone? Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Jun 28;14:1201313. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1201313. PMID: 37455904; PMCID: PMC10338218.

Tell your friends about us.

We would love to help them too.

For First Time Users

What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?

We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.

Learn more about diseases

Low Testosterone / Late Onset Hypogonadism

Not sure about the cause of your current symptoms?

Try our AI-based symptom checker

With an easy 3-min questionnaire, you can get a free AI-powered report on possible causes

Tips to try:

Provide specific, detailed info about all symptoms you have.
Give accurate information about yourself including current conditions.
Answer all follow-up questions

Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor’s Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.