The Link Between PTSD and Low Testosterone
How Trauma Can Affect Hormones and Overall Health
Post traumatic stress disorder is most often discussed in terms of mood, sleep, flashbacks, and anxiety. What many people never hear about is the physical side of PTSD, especially how it affects hormone levels. One of the most common findings in people with chronic stress and PTSD is low testosterone.
Understanding this connection can help patients make sense of their symptoms and get the right support. At Doctor Springs Hormone Care, we see this pattern often, especially in veterans and first responders.
How PTSD Impacts Hormones
PTSD is not just a mental or emotional condition. It is a full body stress response that stays active long after the original trauma. When the brain is stuck in a high alert cycle, the body releases higher levels of cortisol, which is the primary stress hormone. Cortisol and testosterone compete with each other. When cortisol stays high for long periods of time, testosterone production drops.
This disruption affects the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis. That is the hormone communication system that tells the testes to make testosterone. When this system is disrupted by chronic stress signals, testosterone naturally falls.
Common Symptoms Patients Notice
Many symptoms of low testosterone overlap with symptoms patients already experience with PTSD. This can make it easy to overlook hormone imbalances. Signs of low testosterone often include:
• Low energy
• Low motivation
• Irritability
• Brain fog
• Trouble sleeping
• Low libido
• Slower recovery after exercise
• Unexplained weight gain
• Lower muscle mass
When PTSD and low testosterone happen together, these symptoms can feel more intense and harder to manage.
Why Treatment Helps
For patients with PTSD, stabilizing hormone levels often leads to noticeable improvements in mood, energy, and resilience. When testosterone is restored to a healthy range, people often describe feeling more balanced, more focused, and more like themselves again.
Hormone therapy does not replace mental health care, but it can support the body so patients have a stronger foundation to work from.
A Personalized Approach
At Doctor Springs Hormone Care, every patient is evaluated individually. We review symptoms, lifestyle factors, and lab results to create a plan tailored to each person’s needs. Dr. Springs has years of clinical experience treating both men and women with hormone imbalance, and she has a special understanding of stress related conditions due to her background as a Navy veteran.
If you have PTSD and think you may also have low testosterone, getting your levels checked is a simple first step that can make a major difference in how you feel.
Ready To Schedule your FREE consultation?
You can call or text us at 813 485 5954 or schedule a no-risk consultation directly here on DoctorSprings.com. We offer convenient appointments in person or via telehealth.
