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Low testosterone is not a normal part of aging, study says

Category: Hormones and Metabolism

Decreasing testosterone levels are not a necessary part of the aging process for men, according to a new report. Individuals may want to consider blood testing to measure their hormone levels to understand what exactly is causing the symptoms of low testosterone.

In recent years, there has been a significant amount of attention given to what has come to be known as male menopause. However, there has been no shortage of disagreement over whether it should be considered a legitimate medical condition.

In the new study, researchers from the University of Adelaide in Australia tracked the testosterone levels of more than 1,500 men over a five-year period. All participants were between the ages of 35 and 80.

The results showed that testosterone levels dropped by an average of less than 1 percent per year in the men. However, when the researchers accounted for other factors that could lower testosterone levels, such as weight gain, smoking or depression, they found that average healthy men did not experience any significant drop in hormone levels.

"It is critical that doctors understand that declining testosterone levels are not a natural part of aging and that they are most likely due to health-related behaviors or health status itself," said lead researcher Gary Wittert.