Why employers are taking action to tackle low testosterone

Across the country, low testosterone levels are silently sapping the energy levels of two million men. And it’s not just the UK; globally, men’s testosterone levels are on the decline. 

Low testosterone is a real threat to workplace productivity, and it needs to be addressed. 

Symptoms include mood swings, low energy, poor concentration, memory loss and poor sleep quality. Long-term, low testosterone can lead to severe health issues like obesity, coronary artery disease, infertility and osteoporosis.

39% of employees experience disruption because men wait until a health problem becomes severe before seeking help from HR. With red flags including erectile dysfunction and low libido, there’s no wonder that men are brushing the signs of testosterone deficiency under the rug and often waiting until it becomes much worse before talking to a health professional.

Supporting low testosterone as part of your wellbeing agenda could raise the bar for wider men’s health in your organisation, boosting engagement and productivity and avoiding preventable absence and attrition from long term sickness, fatigue or even premature death. 

Understanding low-T

• Testosterone levels gradually decline from the mid-30s
• Globally, average testosterone levels in men are declining by 1% year on year
• Low testosterone can result from stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, and lack of exercise
• Symptoms are often dismissed as overwork or ageing, leading to misdiagnosis of depression or no diagnosis at all

The knock-on effect

Testosterone deficiency and its accompanying symptoms can impact body image, self-confidence and even family plans. In severe cases, it can affect sperm count and lead to physical changes like gynecomastia (sometimes unkindly referred to as ‘man boobs’) due to fat distribution.

Apart from the physical effects, low testosterone can also lead to fatigue, decreased energy levels, and poor overall mental health.

All this means that low testosterone can affect male employees’ ability to bring their best selves to work.  

How to tackle testosterone

Employers have the power to help their people manage the symptoms of low testosterone – or even reverse the clock. Here’s how:

• Raise awareness: Normalise the topic of testosterone in the workplace with resources and events that help employees recognise the signs, symptoms and risks of low-T. 
• Promote a healthy lifestyle: There’s no quick fix, lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, sleep, and work-life balance can have a remarkable impact on testosterone levels. 
• Make testing easy to access: A simple finger prick blood test can diagnose low testosterone. Make this easy and accessible by providing free, remote testosterone testing. 
• Offer confidential, specialist support: Connect employees to men’s health experts so they can speak to someone about red flag symptoms or concerns, quickly and confidentially. 

The power to take on the issue of low testosterone and unleash the full potential of your workforce is in your hands.

Talk to Peppy about our Specialised Men’s Health service, which includes at-home testosterone testing and one-to-one consultations with men’s health experts.