TESTOSTERONE syndrome deficiency, otherwise known as hypogonadism, is a common health issue that many men experience as they age.
The condition, which sees the decline in the levels of testosterone, often begins affecting men after the age of 30. In fact, one in five men exhibit symptoms of the process as soon as they reach their late 30s.
But unlike menopause, the cause of testosterone syndrome deficiency is not solely due to ageing. And the effects concur sometimes can be deadly.
Despite this, the awareness of the condition is still relatively low, with many men dismissing it as a normal consequence of ageing.
Hence, Doctor Ngoo Kay Seong has taken it upon himself to tackle this issue.
Ngoo, a consultant urologist, has been on a mission in furthering the cause by raising awareness. During a recent conversation with theSun, Doctor Ngoo elaborated more about the condition and the treatments available.
How important is testosterone to a man’s health?
“Testosterone in general is not only important for sexual functioning adult males, but it is also important for sexual maturation and development.
“So, if you are born with the XY chromosome, you are meant to be a male with male genitalia.
“But if you do not have enough testosterone, you may be born with ambiguous genitalia. This will then stunt your growth spurt as an adult.
“For instance, you may not have adequate male features or perhaps you may also grow breasts. These are problems related to early-onset hypogonadism of hormones.
“While the symptoms for late-onset hypogonadism ranges from having low sex libido, penis function and ejaculation. This is a common condition among men over age 40. In fact, one in five men has this condition.
“So, it is a clinical and biochemical syndrome that requires a laboratory test to prove it. And also, you must have a record of exhibiting these reported symptoms.
“Only then, it can be proven that you are experiencing a deficiency in serum testosterone.”
