June celebrates National Men’s Health Month, an annual observance that aims to bring awareness to health issues specific to men, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health stigma, and hormone imbalances specific to men. One such condition – which can affect both men and women – is low testosterone, also known as hypogonadism.
Testosterone is responsible for many biologic functions, including the development of bones and muscles, energy metabolism, and sex drive. In males specifically, the hormone regulates hair growth, deepening of the voice, and sperm production.
Low testosterone is a hormonal disorder in which the testes do not produce enough testosterone. It is estimated that between 4 and 5 million men in the United States, or approximately 2 in 100 men, have testosterone deficiency, and its prevalence is substantially higher in older males, with nearly 40% of men aged 45 and older presenting with low levels of the hormone.