Low Testosterone
Origins
Low testosterone, also diagnosed as hypoandrogenism, typically occurs in older males "due to aging testis losing the ability to produce adequate levels of T despite normal or unchanged levels of LH". For younger adults & even adolescents, however, this diagnosis presents more of a challenge as they do not experience the same range of symptoms (Cohen et al., 2020).
As read in "How to Use Cold Plunge Therapy to Boost Testosterone, Naturally", men are not the only victims of low testosterone either (although most commonly associated with this issue). Women experience this imbalance of hormone levels as well, also resulting in heart deficits & low libido.
Mechanisms
Testosterone, the primary male sex hormone & anabolic steroid, serves two functions for the body. One function includes promoting muscle building due to its anabolic effects. Another function involve its effects on androgen, responsible for male traits such as deep voices & facial hair. While it is produced mainly by testicles in the adult human, this hormone is also produced by the ovaries in women. For men, it regulates their appearance & sexual development, stimulates sperm production & regulate's sex drive, including semen volume. It can also help to build muscle & bone mass in either sex. In women, testosterone & androgen must be balanced properly to ensure the ovaries function normally, as androgens also play an important role in normal brain function including mood, sex drive & cognitive functions (Omona, 2020).
Symptoms
Common symptoms for older men suffering from low testosterone can be erectile dysfunction or decreased libido. However, younger men often do not display these same symptoms, but instead complain of low energy levels (Cohen et al., 2020). Other symptoms of low testosterone may include reduced body & facial hair, loss of muscle mass, reduced sperm count, increased breast size, hot flashes, irritability, poor concentration, depression, loss of body hair & brittle bone structure (Omona, 2020). In "What Happened to My Testosterone After Using Ice Baths for My Prostate", low testosterone can cause prostate inflammation & in extreme cases, it can even result in prostate cancer.
Often times, low testosterone is treated through testosterone replacement or supplementation therapy by prescribed testosterone products. However, as found in "Do Ice Baths Increase Testosterone?", these treatments may result in adverse side effects such as aggression, hypersexuality & cholestatis. In those who are prone to coronary artery disease, testosterone supplementation therapy may be at risk for especially dangerous outcomes, such as myocardial infarctions, stroke & death (Lee & Tillman, 2016). Even with these risks involved, there are also some studies that suggest testosterone supplementation is ineffective in treating erectile dysfunction & is not consistent in effecting libido. Along with this, studies have shown testosterone supplemenatation having no consistent benefits on cardiovascular health, sexual function, mood, behavior or cognition (Huo et al, 2016). While this form of treatment may be most commonly recognized, it may leave people feeling limited in options without risk or significant testosterone improvement during long term use.
"Do Ice Baths Increase Testosterone" explains the the mechanism of steroidogenesis. Performed by mitochondria, there is the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone, the steroidal precursor necessary to synthesize testosterone. Although there has been conflicting studies of the effects of ice baths on testosterone, the science of cold therapy for treating low testosterone has become increasingly more convincing. After adopting a regular practice of cold plunge therapy, both women and men have documented increases in total testosterone.
In "Do Ice Baths Increase Testosterone?", several case studies are reviewed that show that ice baths help to support the combat of low testosterone. In the case of Eloise DeSoutter, a 32 year old woman who had never given birth, she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) & began self directing cold plunging to see its impacts on her fertility. She experimented with this over 4 months, initially performing daily immersions from 2-8°C, then reducing her frequency to 2-3 times per week. Eloise saw significant endocrine & anthropometric changes, & her total testosterone increased from 0.6 to 1.1 nmol/L, showing nearly 2x her usual levels. Additionally, Eloise's estrogen levels exhibited a 3x increase, her muscle mass increased by 2% & her total fat mass decreased by 2%. While she had no other lifestyle modifications during this period, she still reported having enhanced mood, confidence, libido & energy levels.
Another case study reviewed in this article takes a look at Sean Smiley, a 43 year old male firefighter & paramedic, struggling with a history of chronic hypogonadism from a prior saddle injury sustained at 26. After unsuccessful attempts at testosterone supplementation & suffering from adverse side effects like aggression, hypersexuality & cholestatis, Sean discontinued testosterone replacement therapy & began a new approach through cold water immersion. When he was 39, he began pre-exercise cold pool swimming & eventually progressed to doing ice baths, combined with breath work. Sean saw a staggering increase within only 35-45 days. His testosterone levels increased from the low 200's ng/dL range to 595 ng/dL. Not only did his testosterone levels increase, but he reported notable improvements in his mental health, sexual function & return of nocturnal tumescence (nighttime erections). As he continued his cold water regimen, these levels only continued to improve as he reached 773 ng/dL by July 2024.
In both of these cases, ice baths proved effective at not only treating low testosterone when other treatments methods had failed, but offers hope for those still struggling from abnormal levels & the impact this can have on a person.
To learn more on the effects of cold therapy & the mechanisms of ice baths against low testosterone, please click here to purchase a copy of Uncommon Cold.
References
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Cohen J, Nassau DE, Patel P, Ramasamy R. Low testosterone in adolescents & young adults. Frontiers in endocrinology. 2020 Jan 10;10:916.
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Huo S, Scialli AR, McGarvey S, Hill E, Tügertimur B, Hogenmiller A, Hirsch AI, Fugh-Berman A. Treatment of men for “low testosterone”: a systematic review. PloS one. 2016 Sep 21;11(9):e0162480.
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Lee OD, Tillman K. An overview of testosterone therapy. American journal of men's health. 2016 Jan;10(1):68-72.
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Omona K. Testosterone. InReproductive Hormones 2020 Oct 5. IntechOpen.
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