Low testosterone
Late-onset hypogonadism: an uncommon condition in which the testes produce too little hormone in later adult life. It is a specific diagnosis, not a normal stage of male ageing.
The basics
About 1% a year
Testosterone falls naturally with age: about 1% a year from around age 30 to 40. The NHS says that decline is unlikely to cause problems by itself. [1]
- In many men with so-called male menopause symptoms, the cause is not hormonal at all. The NHS points to lifestyle factors and to stress, depression and anxiety. [1]
- Diagnosis rests on symptoms plus specific blood tests: a fasting testosterone sample taken in the morning, repeated with a wider hormone profile if the first result is low or borderline. [2]
- Confirmed deficiency is managed by a hormone specialist, with testosterone replacement offered only once an endocrinologist confirms the diagnosis. [1]
- Low testosterone is associated with a higher risk of death from any cause. In a 2024 pooled analysis of individual data from nine cohort studies of men, those whose testosterone was below 7.4 nmol/L had higher all-cause mortality after adjustment for age, body mass index and other risk factors. [3]
The weight connection
The NHS records that hypogonadism developing later in life occurs particularly in men who are obese or have type 2 diabetes. That is an association, not a promise that weight change restores hormones. [1]
Can our blood test see it?
0 of 10markers on the HeMed panel measure testosterone
Cardiovascular risk
- Total cholesterol
- LDL cholesterol
- HDL cholesterol
- Triglycerides
Liver function
- ALT
- AST
- GGT
Diabetes risk
- HbA1c
- Fasting glucose
Thyroid function
- TSH
No. The HeMed panel does not measure testosterone. Guidance-standard testing is precise: a fasting venous sample taken between 9 and 11 in the morning, repeated if low or borderline. If these symptoms sound familiar, that conversation belongs with your GP.
HeMed provides clinician-led weight management. We do not diagnose or treat low testosterone. This page is general health information, not medical advice. If you are worried about symptoms, speak to your GP, or use NHS 111.
Sources (3)
- NHS, "The 'male menopause'", page last reviewed 13 October 2022. nhs.uk/conditions/male-menopause. Accessed 3 September 2026.
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries, "Erectile dysfunction: assessment", last revised July 2026. cks.nice.org.uk. Accessed 3 September 2026.
- Yeap BB and colleagues. "Associations of testosterone and related hormones with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and incident cardiovascular disease in men: individual participant data meta-analyses." Annals of Internal Medicine 2024;177(6):768 to 781. doi.org/10.7326/M23-2781. Accessed 21 September 2026.
Numbered markers in the page text link to these entries. Statistics describe populations, not any one person’s results.