Multiple studies have shown that men have a significant drop in testosterone levels when they don’t get a good night’s sleep.
Most of us know what to expect after not getting enough shut-eye. The brain is foggy. You feel fatigued. You can’t concentrate. And the day seems to drag. However, there are other less obvious things that happen. One of those is a drastic drop in men’s testosterone levels.
Testosterone and Sleep
The amount of testosterone in a man’s body will fluctuate throughout a 24-hour day. It reaches its height first thing in the morning and gradually diminishes throughout the day, reaching its low point late in the evening. During the night, when a man is deep in slumber, the body rebuilds the levels of testosterone in the body to get ready for the next day.
One study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, was conducted between 2003 and 2009. It found that men who slept for only five hours a day had a 15 percent decrease in their testosterone levels. In comparison, men lose about 1 to 2 percent of their testosterone levels each year as they grow older. A lack of quality slumber translates into the equivalent of 10 to 15 years of aging.
A more recent study, also published in JAMA, confirmed this finding. The study involved 10 young men in their mid-20s in good physical condition. For a week, the men were given the chance to slumber for less than five hours a night. Those young men, otherwise in great health, saw the same 15 percent decrease in testosterone. The study found the lowest levels of testosterone were between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.
What Does All of This Mean?
Deprivation of solid slumber definitely can affect a man’s testosterone levels. That is why it’s important to treat any problems that might be causing the lack of shut-eye.
The first step is to see your doctor. The doctor can run various tests to see if there are underlying issues contributing to the lack of restful slumber. They may recommend going through a sleep study to determine if apnea is a problem. They may also recommend a visit to the endocrinologist to verify that there are no hormonal issues. On the positive side, physical reasons for the problems can usually be effectively treated, giving you back a good night of shut-eye.
Besides physical causes, slumber can be interrupted due to mental and emotional problems as well. Depression and anxiety are two of the most common examples of this. The good news is that both can be treated with medications and therapy.
Don’t let a lack of slumber get in the way of your life. Work with your doctors to determine what is going on and to fix it. That way, you can enjoy a restful night and wake up with a healthy level of testosterone.
