Decline in serum testosterone levels among adolescent and young adult men in the USA
Using the American NHANES health database, Lokeshwar et al. asked whether the well-documented population decline has now reached adolescents and young adults. 4,045 men aged 15–39 were analysed across survey cycles from 1999 to 2016.
Focus
Decline in young men
Published finding
2011–2016
Source
10.1016/j.euf.2020.02.006
Record
Ref 14
Structured abstract
Method
Using the American NHANES health database, Lokeshwar et al. asked whether the well-documented population decline has now reached adolescents and young adults. 4,045 men aged 15–39 were analysed across survey cycles from 1999 to 2016.
Result
Mean total testosterone was significantly lower in the 2011–2016 cycles than in 1999–2000. Higher BMI was associated with lower testosterone. The declining trend persisted among men with a normal BMI, so weight alone does not explain it. Testosterone deficiency is reported in about 20% of adolescent and young adult men.
What to take with you
NHANES 15–39: later cycles ran lower than 1999–2000. The trend held in men with a normal BMI.
Why it matters
NHANES 15–39: later cycles ran lower than 1999–2000, including in men with a normal BMI — the fall has reached young men.
Study frame
Decline in young men
Using the American NHANES health database, Lokeshwar et al. asked whether the well-documented population decline has now reached adolescents and young adults. 4,045 men aged 15–39 were analysed across survey cycles from 1999 to 2016.
Finding
Mean total testosterone was significantly lower in the 2011–2016 cycles than in 1999–2000.
Contrast
Higher BMI was associated with lower testosterone.
Context
The declining trend persisted among men with a normal BMI, so weight alone does not explain it.
DOI
10.1016/j.euf.2020.02.006
Category
Decline in young men
Findings listed
4
Type
As published
What to take from the numbers
Boxes below use only wording already in the published summary for this study.
Reported finding
2011–2016
Mean total testosterone was significantly lower in the 2011–2016 cycles than in 1999–2000.
Reported finding
2
Higher BMI was associated with lower testosterone.
Reported finding
3
The declining trend persisted among men with a normal BMI, so weight alone does not explain it.
The decline held among men with a normal BMI, so weight alone does not explain it.
Why it matters when reading your own result
Pulled from the study's own findings.
Mean total testosterone was significantly lower in the 2011–2016 cycles than in 1999–2000.
Decline in young men
Higher BMI was associated with lower testosterone.
Decline in young men
The declining trend persisted among men with a normal BMI, so weight alone does not explain it.
Decline in young men
Clinical reading
How to use this page
Using the American NHANES health database, Lokeshwar et al. asked whether the well-documented population decline has now reached adolescents and young adults. 4,045 men aged 15–39 were analysed across survey cycles from 1999 to 2016.
Related studies in this library
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2007
A population-level decline in serum testosterone levels in American men
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 86: 724–731 · 2001
Longitudinal effects of aging on serum total and free testosterone levels in healthy men
European Journal of Endocrinology 168: 227–233 · 2013
A cohort effect on serum testosterone levels in Finnish men
Your own numbers
Measure before you decide what this page means for you.
The figures here describe men who were actually measured.
- Total testosterone and SHBG
- Symptoms written down
- Haematocrit as a safety baseline
- Repeat labs before any protocol change