Testosterone and Mood

As we point out often on this site, testosterone effects everything for us guys and, especially, the male brain. One of the surpising things that testosterone alters rapidly is mood.  Yes, testosterone can make us guys "bitchy."  In fact, believe it or not, researchers have a term for it:  Irritable Male Syndrome. [1]

Researchers first noticed the effects of low testosterone in animals and have since studied this effect in a wide variety of mammals. What is counterintuitive is that instead of becoming docile and quiet, males with decreased testosterone become much more prone to fighting. Researchers noted that it could likely be due to a drop in brain opiods that are necessary for mood elevation. Thus they become both fearful and irritable at the same time - a toxic combination by any standards.  (Think of that next time you make fun of a woman with PMS, eh?)

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So just what do researchers mean by "mood?"  Generally, questionaires are used and monitor psychological items such as "positive mood responses (alert, friendly, full of energy, well/good feelings) and negative mood responses (angry, irritable, sad, tired, nervous)." [4]  Other studies have looked at similar attributes, such as "angry, alert, irritable, full of pep (energy), sad/blue, tired, friendly, nervous, and well/good." [7]

However, changes in mood parameters such as this are generally only experienced by men with hypogonadal testosterone levels. Several studies have shown that men with normal or even low normal testosterone levels experience little to no benefit in this area from testosterone therapy for example. [2] Young, healthy males may be more resilient as well to low testosterone according to one study, although the researchers found that they had "hot flashes" and were "emotionally charged." [3] Can you say PMS? 

The evidence is quite clear, though, that low testeosterone significantly affects mood in hypogonadal males. [7] And multiple studies using testosterone therapy have shown that it affects mood favorably. [4][5]  It is also worth noting that several studies also show that mood improves rapidly in a matter of weeks rather than months.

NOTE: You can, in fact, swing the pendulum too far the other way:  researchers have actually increased testosterone to supraphysiological (abnormally high) levels and some of the men displayed signs of hypomania, i.e. symptoms such as euphoria and hypersexuality. [6] 

(See this link on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for more information on testosterone therapy.)

REFERENCES:

1) Reprod Fertil Dev, 2001, 13(7-8):567-76, "The irritable male syndrome"

2) Maturitas, 2005 Feb 14, 50(2):124-33, "Effect of oral testosterone undecanoate on visuospatial cognition, mood and quality of life in elderly men with low-normal gonadal status"

3) Arch Gen Psychiatry, 2004 Oct, 61(10):997-1004, "The effects of pharmacologically induced hypogonadism on mood in healthy men"

4) The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Aug 1 2000, 85(8):2839-2853, "Transdermal Testosterone Gel Improves Sexual Function, Mood, Muscle Strength, and Body Composition Parameters in Hypogonadal Men"

5) The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, May 1 2004, 89(5):2085-2098, "Long-Term Testosterone Gel (AndroGel) Treatment Maintains Beneficial Effects on Sexual Function and Mood, Lean and Fat Mass, and Bone Mineral Density in Hypogonadal Men"

 6) Archives of General Psychiatry, Feb 2000, 57(2), "Effects of Supraphysiologic Doses of Testosterone on Mood and Aggression in Normal Men"

7) J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 1996 Oct, 81(10):3578-83, "Testosterone replacement therapy improves mood in hypogonadal men--a clinical research center study"