Hormone symptoms sap men's work and daily life as many put off seeing a doctor
Nearly two-thirds of men aged 40 to 65 have never had their testosterone levels tested, even as most report symptoms that are spilling into their work and daily lives, according to new research from Marius Pharmaceuticals.
The national survey, conducted by YouGov on behalf of Marius, found that 75 percent of men reported at least one symptom commonly associated with testosterone deficiency in the past year, yet 65 percent had never been tested.
Among men with ongoing health concerns, 45 percent said those concerns had affected their work, relationships or daily responsibilities, and 81 percent of that group described the effect as moderate or significant.
Many of those men delay care, the survey found.
As per the research, 42 percent had put off or avoided seeing a doctor even when they felt something might be wrong, with 38 percent saying the issue did not seem serious enough, 24 percent citing cost, 10 percent fearing bad news and 8 percent saying they were too busy.
Awareness compounds the problem.
The survey reported that 25 percent of men were not confident they could recognize symptoms of low testosterone and another 30 percent were unsure.
Among those tested, the most commonly reported symptoms over the past year were low energy or fatigue (48 percent), poor sleep (47 percent), reduced motivation (34 percent) and low sex drive (28 percent).
Shalin Shah, chief executive officer of Marius Pharmaceuticals, said the problem extends beyond testosterone.
He pointed to a "broader disconnect" between how men feel, how they interpret symptoms and when they decide to seek care.
Mohit Khera, a board-certified urologist who co-moderated an FDA expert panel on testosterone replacement therapy for men in December 2025, said the survey echoed the panel's central message that testosterone signals cardiovascular, metabolic and mortality risk rather than sexual function alone.
"These findings highlight that men's health issues rarely exist in isolation," Khera said, adding that screening is simple and remains one of the most underused ways to identify health risks early.
Emerging research points to another possible lever.
A review by Warwick Medical School in the UK found that GLP-1 drugs, the diabetes and obesity treatments now widely prescribed for weight loss, "may improve reproductive hormones and semen parameters in obese hypogonadal men", the Independent reported.
In one study cited in the review, 30 men with low testosterone received either testosterone replacement therapy or a GLP-1 drug, and both groups recorded higher testosterone after 16 days, according to the Independent.
