Low testosterone statistics 2026: how common hypogonadism is by age, symptoms and diagnosis

of men aged 45 and older visiting US primary care practices had hypogonadism, defined as total testosterone below 300 ng/dL¹

Hypogonadism in Males (HIM) study of 2,162 patients; 836 were hypogonadal.

of men aged 30 to 79 had total testosterone below 300 ng/dL²

Boston Area Community Health Survey (1,475 men, mean age 47.3). The abstract gives this as approximately 24%; 11% had free testosterone below 5 ng/dL.

of men aged 30 to 79 had symptomatic androgen deficiency (low total and free testosterone plus symptoms)²

Prevalence did not differ significantly by race and ethnic group.

American men aged 30 to 79 could have symptomatic androgen deficiency by 2025, according to a projection²

The authors projected a 38% increase from 2000 population estimates.

of men aged 40 to 79 met the European Male Ageing Study definition of late-onset hypogonadism³

University press release on Wu et al., NEJM 2010, which studied 3,369 men in eight European centers.

of adolescent and young adult males have testosterone deficiency, as stated in a NHANES-based report⁴

Background figure cited in the report's introduction rather than a new estimate from its NHANES analysis.

US men aged 20 and older in NHANES 2011 to 2016 had total testosterone below 300 ng/dL⁵

Weighted analysis of male adults with an average age of 47.46.

of men over 60 had hypogonadal total testosterone levels in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging⁶

The abstract gives about 20% over 60, rising to about 30% of men over 70 and 50% of men over 80, and was higher still using free testosterone criteria. Stored samples from 890 men.

average yearly change in total testosterone with age in healthy men⁶

Longitudinal estimate independent of health factors.

of men in their 70s had symptomatic androgen deficiency, versus 3.1% to 7.0% of men under 70²

suggested cutoff for low testosterone in men aged 20 to 24, versus 350 ng/dL for men aged 40 to 44⁷

Age-specific cutoffs from NHANES 2011 to 2016 data on 1,486 men; the authors question applying the 300 ng/dL cutoff to younger men.

harmonized normal total testosterone range for healthy nonobese men aged 19 to 39⁸

Based on 9,054 men in four US and European cohorts, with assays calibrated to a CDC reference method.

US adolescent and young adult men in NHANES 1999 to 2016 showed lower mean total testosterone in 2011-2016 than in 1999-2000, even at normal BMI⁴

The decline persisted after controlling for confounders; the authors note differing assays as a limitation.

sexual symptoms (poor morning erections, low sexual desire and erectile dysfunction) had a syndromic link to low testosterone in the European Male Ageing Study⁹

Late-onset hypogonadism was defined as these three symptoms plus total testosterone below 11 nmol/L (3.2 ng/mL) and free testosterone below 220 pmol/L (64 pg/mL).

of men aged 30 to 79 reported erectile dysfunction, 12% low libido and 20% two or more nonspecific symptoms²

Nonspecific symptoms were sleep disturbance, depressed mood, lethargy or diminished physical performance.

of men aged 50 and older with low testosterone levels had no symptoms of androgen deficiency²

of European men aged 40 to 79 had secondary hypogonadism (low testosterone with low or normal LH)¹⁰

2.0% had primary hypogonadism and 9.5% had compensated hypogonadism. Sexual symptoms were more common in secondary and primary hypogonadism.

of obese nondiabetic men aged 45 and older had subnormal free testosterone, versus 26% of lean nondiabetic men¹¹

HIM study data on 1,849 men; 50% of obese men with diabetes had subnormal free testosterone.

of men with type 2 diabetes were hypogonadal in a clinic study of 103 patients¹²

odds ratio for hypogonadism in men with obesity versus without¹

Odds ratios were also elevated for diabetes (2.09), hypertension (1.84) and hyperlipidemia (1.47).

odds ratio for low testosterone per 10 cm increase in waist circumference¹³

Waist circumference was the most important contributor among the variables studied.

relative risk ratio for secondary hypogonadism in men with BMI of 30 or higher¹⁰

of men with symptomatic androgen deficiency in a Boston community sample were not receiving treatment¹⁴

Only 12.2% were treated, despite adequate access to care.

men with hypogonadism in the HIM primary care study were receiving testosterone¹

of new androgen users had a hypogonadism diagnosis in the year before starting treatment¹⁵

Commercially insured men aged 40 and older, 2001 to 2011.

of new androgen users had a testosterone level measured in the 12 months before starting treatment¹⁵

fasting testosterone levels below 300 ng/dL plus symptoms were required to enter the TRAVERSE trial of testosterone therapy¹⁶

Reflects the confirmatory testing approach used in clinical research.