Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) : an emerging pathophysiological entity requiring the physician's attention

Abstract

Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is an emerging pathophysiological entity. Not everybody is familiar with LOH or even recognizes its existence. Since the 19th century women's life expectancy has become progressively greater than that of men and therefore their ailments associated with aging from the climacteric onwards attracted medical attention much earlier than male aging health problems. In addition, male aging problems start at a later age than the climacteric occurs in women. However, men's life expectancy is also continuously increasing: in Europe a newborn male now has a life expectancy of about 75 years, and a 60-year-old man has a statistical possibility of reaching 80 years of age. The increasing number of aging men forces physicians to focus on their health problems.