Research from the pandemic links low testosterone to more severe COVID-19 in men, and the virus itself can lower testosterone, sometimes for months. Low testosterone does not cause or cure COVID-19, but it shapes immune health and recovery. For men with a confirmed deficiency, physician-supervised testosterone therapy can restore healthy levels and ease symptoms after proper testing.
Early in the pandemic, doctors noticed a pattern that was hard to ignore: men tended to get sicker from COVID-19 than women. Researchers started asking why, and one answer kept coming back to a single hormone. In men, low testosterone has been tied to a higher chance of severe illness, and the virus itself may push testosterone down even further.
This article walks through what scientists have found about androgen hormones and COVID-19, how low testosterone affects the immune system, and where hormone therapy fits in. Let us start with the basics.
How are low testosterone and COVID-19 connected in men?
Studies during the pandemic found that men with low testosterone faced a higher risk of severe COVID-19, and that the infection itself often lowered testosterone further. A study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reported that, among men hospitalized with COVID-19, low testosterone in the blood was linked to more severe illness. The relationship appears to run in both directions.
This matters because low testosterone is common and often goes undiagnosed. If you are a man weighing your options, a clinical evaluation and testosterone replacement therapy to restore healthy hormone levels is one path worth understanding before drawing conclusions about your own risk.
What are androgens?
Androgens are the group of hormones responsible for many male traits, including body hair growth, muscle development, and the deepening of the voice during puberty. They also support male sexual function and play a role in mood, energy, and bone strength.
The main androgens in the human body include:
Testosterone
Androstenedione
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S)
Both men and women produce androgens. Men simply make them at much higher levels, which is why shifts in testosterone tend to affect men more noticeably.
Where are androgens produced?
In men, most androgens are made in the gonads, mainly as testosterone and androstenedione. Women produce much smaller amounts of these hormones, primarily in the ovaries, with some also coming from the adrenal glands. According to the Cleveland Clinic, when the testicles do not make enough testosterone, the result is a condition often called male hypogonadism, or low testosterone. So the natural next question is how that hormone connects to a respiratory virus.
How does COVID-19 affect sex hormones in men?
COVID-19 can lower testosterone, and research suggests the virus may interfere with the cells in the testicles that produce it. A cohort study indexed in the National Institutes of Health database found that circulating testosterone was reduced in men with COVID-19, with levels that often stayed low for months after infection.
Testosterone is more than a sex hormone. It helps regulate parts of the immune response, so a sharp drop during illness may make it harder for the body to mount a balanced defense. That overlap between hormone health and immune function is a major reason researchers paid such close attention to testosterone during the pandemic.
Does low testosterone make COVID-19 worse?
The evidence points that way for many men. Reporting from the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota described findings that men with low testosterone and COVID-19 were more than twice as likely to be hospitalized as men with normal levels. Low testosterone appears to be both a marker of vulnerability and, in some men, a contributing factor.
It is important to be precise here. Low testosterone does not cause COVID-19, and the research does not show that raising testosterone cures or prevents the virus. What the studies do suggest is that hormone balance is one piece of overall health that can shape how a man recovers from a serious infection.
What is the solution to low testosterone?
For men with a confirmed deficiency, the standard medical answer is hormone replacement under a physician's care. Testosterone therapy has been used for decades to treat documented low testosterone, with the goal of returning levels to a healthy range and easing the symptoms that come with a shortfall.
Treatment is not one-size-fits-all. A thorough workup, bloodwork, and ongoing monitoring are what separate a safe plan from guesswork, which is why this work belongs with a men's health clinic that supervises hormone and sexual health care. The first step is always testing, not assumptions.
What are the benefits of hormone therapy for low testosterone?
When testosterone is genuinely low, restoring it to a healthy range can relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. For men with a diagnosed deficiency, that often means better energy, mood, libido, and body composition over time.
Untreated low testosterone can show up as a long list of complaints, including:
Low energy and persistent fatigue
Reduced muscle mass and easier weight gain
Low libido and difficulty with sexual function
Low mood, irritability, or trouble concentrating
Poor sleep
Many of these overlap with the symptoms of clinically low testosterone that a provider can confirm with testing. When therapy is matched to a real deficiency, the goal is restoring normal function, not pushing hormones above where a healthy body would keep them.
What this means for men thinking about their health
The pandemic put a spotlight on something hormone specialists already knew: testosterone is woven into immune health, recovery, and day-to-day wellbeing. According to the Mayo Clinic, untreated male hypogonadism can contribute to problems such as low libido, fatigue, and bone loss, which is why a proper diagnosis matters.
If you suspect your levels are low, the smart move is to get tested and talk with a qualified provider about whether treatment makes sense for you. Hormone health is not about chasing a single number during a single illness. It is about understanding your baseline and supporting your body for the long run.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does COVID-19 lower testosterone in men?
Research suggests it can. Studies found that many men with COVID-19 had reduced testosterone during infection, and the virus may interfere with the testicular cells that produce it. For some men, levels stayed low for months afterward, which is one reason follow-up testing can be useful.
Can low testosterone make COVID-19 more severe?
The evidence indicates that men with low testosterone tend to face a higher risk of severe COVID-19 and hospitalization. Low testosterone is not a direct cause of the virus, but it appears to be both a warning sign of vulnerability and, in some men, a factor in how the body responds to serious infection.
Will testosterone therapy prevent or cure COVID-19?
No. Current research does not show that testosterone therapy prevents, treats, or cures COVID-19. Hormone therapy is used to correct a documented deficiency and ease its symptoms. Any decision about treatment should be based on testing and a physician's evaluation, not on the hope of fighting a virus.
How do I know if I have low testosterone?
Symptoms such as fatigue, low libido, weight gain, poor sleep, and low mood can point to low testosterone, but they overlap with many other conditions. The only reliable way to know is a blood test ordered and interpreted by a qualified provider, usually repeated to confirm the result.
Do testosterone levels recover after COVID-19?
For many men, testosterone levels rebound as they recover from infection. In others, levels can stay low for an extended period. Because the pattern varies, a provider may recommend rechecking your levels after you have recovered before deciding whether any treatment is needed.
Ready to take the next step?
Talk with the AgeRejuvenation team about a Testosterone Replacement Therapy plan built around your labs and goals.
