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Experts warn men to seek testosterone testing

Category: Hormones and Metabolism

Most people are familiar with the hormonal changes that women go through during menopause, but few are aware that men undergo similar disruptions in their hormone balance as they age. Yet, these changes can result in a decreased quality of life and occasionally diseases. For this reason, many health experts recommend testosterone testing for men as they grow older.

"The national average for men having significant testosterone loss is estimated by age 50," Dr. David Moreno, a primary care physician in Florida, told Hernando Today. "However, I have patients who have started experiencing symptoms as early as 40."

This is why he recommends to his patients to seek regular testosterone testing. The simple blood test may alert men to drops in the hormone that could precede changes such as decreased energy, libido and bone density.

Additionally, some studies have connected low testosterone levels to an increased risk of prostate cancer. A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that nearly 6 percent of men over age 40 suffer from low testosterone levels, and indicated that the condition grows more prevalent with age.