How Low Testosterone Can Affect Men's Lives

(NAPS)-As the summer months are upon us and men start preparing their lawn mowers for peak performance, it is also important for them to set time aside to focus on their own health and well-being.

The longer days and warmer weather create more time for activities with family and loved ones, but for some men, the season doesn't bring the enthusiasm it once did. It is important for men who are experiencing fatigue, depressed mood, loss of energy or decreased sexual function to know that they may actually be suffering from an under diagnosed but treatable condition.

Hypogonadism, or low testosterone, is a common condition in which a man's body does not produce enough testosterone. It is estimated to affect more than 13 million men over the age of 45 in the United States; however, more than 90 percent of those with the condition remain untreated.

Men who are suffering from other conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or asthmaCOPD are at an increased risk for low testosterone.

The symptoms of low testosterone can be common to many other conditions and oftentimes are mistaken as depression or erectile dysfunction. "Many men do not realize that symptoms such as fatigue or a diminished interest in sex can be attributed to a low level of testosterone," said Dr. Natan Bar-Chama, director of Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.

"But the good news is that a simple blood test is all that is needed to confirm the diagnosis of low testosterone, and once identified, a variety of treatment options are available."

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