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Experts recommend more men seek testosterone testing

Category: Hormones and Metabolism

Testosterone in men has a major influence over their quality of life, but a growing number of individuals are experiencing low levels of this important hormone. For this reason, experts recommend that men should make testosterone testing a part of their regular healthcare.

Dr. Liron Belzer, the medical director of the Florida Men's Health Center said that the most immediate problem posed by low testosterone levels is a diminished sex drive. Hormone deficiency can leave a man with below average sexual function.

However, the problems are much more severe than that. Several studies have connected testosterone deficiency to depression and heart disease, two serious chronic conditions that can significantly reduce a man's quality of life and put him at risk for heart attacks.

This is why Dr. Belzer recommends that men start getting regular testosterone tests as they grow older. Hormone levels drop to a certain degree in just about every male, but allowing the condition to progress too far can have serious health consequences.

Researchers recently reported in the journal Aging Male that up to 20 percent of men over the age of 50 may have clinically deficient testosterone levels.