Vaping is on therise globally, attracting former smokers looking for an alternative and young people who can’t get enough of the vast array of flavors. The increase in the popularity of vapes doesn’t mean that people aren’t concerned about certain aspects of vaping.

One specific concern is whether vaping nicotine lowers testosterone, a hormone produced in men and, in smaller amounts, in women that has a role in everything from muscle health to mood, energy, and sexual development. Here, we look at the relationship between vaping and testosterone levels. 

Vaping and Testosterone

Testosterone is a hormone produced in the testes by men and ovaries by women. This hormone plays a key role in the body from as early as the fetal development stages, where it triggers the production of male sex organs and continues to be important through puberty in triggering other stages of development.

Additionally, testosterone stimulates protein production to repair and regenerate muscles, regulate mood, and increase sex drive. The amount of testosterone produced in the body can vary by age, sex, and other factors like health and lifestyle.

The levels are usually at theirhighest in adult men in their 20s, with numbers starting to fall in their 30s and as they approach middle age. 

What Is Vaping?

Vaping is fast becoming the go-to nicotine consumption method. Vapor is produced by a coil in a vape that heats e-liquid or vape juice to a high enough temperature to produce vapor. Vape liquid contains nicotine, varying from 0 mg (no nicotine) to 20 mg (super high nicotine concentration).

In addition to nicotine, vape juice contains flavorings, a carrier like propylene glycol, and potentially other substances that make up the juice. 

According to astudy into the growth of the vape industry, “the global e-cigarette market is expected to grow from $15 billion in 2020 to $85 billion by 2028.”

The market shows that young people and “never smokers” are already favoring vapes over cigarettes, while an increasing number of smokers are turning to vapes as an alternative.

Young people inone study “perceived e-cigarettes to be less harmful compared with combustible cigarettes but noted the uncertainty of ingredients in disposable e-cigarettes.”

Another study byTobacco Use Insights “Although e-cigarettes have less toxicants and carcinogens than traditional cigarettes, there is still exposure to these substances and nicotine exposure is significant.” 

Scientific Research on Vaping and Hormonal Health

There have been several studies that look at the impact of nicotine on testosterone levels, predominantly in men. One study of baseball players who consume nicotine gum found testosterone levels fell after consumption.

Another study into oral tobacco users found sperm count was lower in those who used it. The first large-scale cross-sectional study of associations between cigarette smoking, sex hormone levels, and LOH symptoms in middle-aged and elderly men found that levels of hormones in the body were affected differently depending on how much somebody smokes.

“Use of e-cigarettes is associated with reduced semen quality but not with higher serum testosterone level as observed for conventional cigarette use.” 

While these studies note the impact of nicotine in other forms on hormones in the body, there are a limited number of studies into vape use specifically.

One study found that the “use of e-cigarettes is associated with reduced semen quality but not with higher serum testosterone level as observed for conventional cigarette use.”

In contrast, another study concluded that “E-cigarettes, even when nicotine-free, include many harmful substances (including endocrine disruptors) that disturb the hormonal balance and negatively affect the morphology and function of the reproductive organs.” 

Nicotine suppresses the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG), which regulates the production of testosterone and other hormones in the body. Additionally, nicotine use activates stress hormones, which can further lower testosterone production levels. 

Nicotine isn’t the only ingredient that could potentially impact testosterone levels in the body. Formaldehyde, found in some vape liquids, is not only a carcinogen but can also affect testosterone levels in the body.

There isn’t enough data available on the impact of other common ingredients like propylene glycol, but these could also potentially have an effect. 

Factors That May Contribute to Lower Testosterone

Nicotine use combined with other lifestyle factors like an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, high stress levels, and disrupted sleep patterns can have an even more significant impact on the body’s production of testosterone.

Vaping may exacerbate pre-existing health conditions like obesity, high cortisol, and insomnia, all of which are associated with lowering testosterone levels by raising cortisol levels and potentially impacting the body’s fat storage. 

The Debate: Vaping vs Smoking

While vaping and smoking combustible cigarettes can both have an effect on testosterone production in the body, vaping is less harmful because it contains fewer toxic chemicals.

Vaping also has less of an impact on oxygen and cortisol levels in the blood, negatively impacting testosterone levels. The additional toxins in cigarettes, like carbon monoxide and tar, also affect testosterone levels. However, most vapes still contain nicotine, which has the most significant impact on testosterone levels. 

Potential Health Implications of Low Testosterone

Low testosterone can have significant implications on overall health. In the short term, fatigue, mood swings, low sex drives, and an increase in fat gain are symptoms of low testosterone.

However, low testosterone levels in the long term can have more drastic impacts on health, like muscle loss, increased risk of heart disease, and elevated risks of dementia because testosterone supports brain function. 

People with low testosterone will find their quality of life decreasing in a variety of ways, from sexual health to overall mood and mental health. 

Conclusion

Vaping, especially excessively, can hurt testosterone production in the body. There is a need for more studies on the direct link between vaping and testosterone production in the body.

However, vaping is better for the body’s production of testosterone than smoking traditional cigarettes if it is in moderation. If you are concerned about the effect of vaping on your testosterone levels, consider switching to a lower-nicotine vape liquid or cutting back on use.