Past University of Beds professor urges men to learn about testosterone deficiency
Only two fifths of men are aware of the symptoms
A past professor of Men's Health and Diabetes at the University of Bedfordshire is urging men to learn about the symptoms associated with testosterone deficiency.
Research carried out by Ted's Health Group shows that two fifths of men are completely unaware of the symptoms and 62% are unaware that the deficiency can have an overall impact on their health.
What are the symptoms and health impacts?
Some of the symptoms associated with the condition include: fatigue, loss of muscle mass, brain fog, increased body fat, and signs of depression, among other things.
According to Professor Geoffrey Hackett: "If you have low testosterone, you may be three times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and type 2 diabetes shortens a man's life by 10 years.
"Not only that, there's also an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and advanced kidney disease."
What are the remedies?
But according to Professor Hackett there are ways to combat the deficiency: "They can have testosterone therapy, which is usually given either in the form of a gel that can be applied daily, or an injection which can be given...every 12 weeks. And these are highly effective treatments."
45% of men wish it was easier to talk about health
The research also found that almost half of men wish it was easier to talk about subjects such as testosterone deficiency but many are too scared to talk openly for fear of being laughed at.
Professor Hackett has said it's vitally important that men start opening up about health concerns: "Women are excellent at seeking help from other women to discuss their problems. They bounce their own experiences off their friends. Men don't do that.
"Men, however miserable they're feeling, however bad life is, the only conservation they'll have with their friends when they go for a drink is how the local football team is doing. They won't talk about anything that's really personal."