Large numbers of men report symptoms commonly associated with low testosterone – but few of the men or their doctors make the connection. That's the bottom line of a new survey conducted by Harris Interactive for the nonprofit Alliance for Aging Research, which surveyed 522 men over the age of 39. One-third reported two or more symptoms such as decreased energy, low libido, reduced muscle strength, increased body fat and weaker bones with mood swings. But the vast majority – 95 percent – say their physician never suggested low testosterone could be the problem. The nonprofit group intends to address this disconnect by launching the Men's Health and Aging in America campaign. The campaign will focus on sparking a dialogue between men and their physicians about low testosterone. They have a long way to go. According to the survey, 91 percent of men 40 and above either don't know any symptoms of low testosterone or are thoroughly confused by the topic. Experts, however, say it's a real concern. "Because of its association with health risks such as diabetes, depression and osteoporosis, low testosterone should be as much of a health concern for men over 40 as heart disease, cancer and stroke," said Dr. Andre T. Guay, a Harvard Medical School professor and director of the Center For Sexual Function/Endocrinology, Lahey Clinic Medical Center, North Shore. And with a demographic tidal wave of aging baby boomers, the problem looms ever larger. "This is just one area where men need to learn a little bit from women," says Dan Perry, the Alliance's executive director. "Being informed, knowledgeable and proactive can make a big difference in your health. We're going to be living 30 years longer than our grandparents did. Why shouldn't we know about the changes that take place and restore the quality of life?" To help get the word out, the Alliance has been hosting a variety of discussions through outlets such as the Washington Post. Dr. Guay will also participate in an upcoming debate on the issue at the American Urological Association. Additionally, the Alliance has posted a series of questions on their Web site to help men determine if they have a legitimate concern … if so, the men will be encouraged to ask their doctors about it. "It's a major inhibition for men to be in touch with the changes that take place in their bodies as they get older," says Perry. "Women, for a variety of psychosocial reasons, are much more in tune with their own bodies. Men tend to be more stoic and tough it out, even though they may lose years of higher quality of life that they could be having. They're simply assuming these experiences are just part of getting older. Most men considered those symptoms as something to be accepted … that they should just suck it up and deal with it." Testosterone is the androgenic hormone primarily responsible for normal growth and development of male sex organs. It facilitates the development of secondary male sex characteristics such as musculature, bone mass, fat distribution, male hair patterns and deepening of the voice. The normal range for total testosterone in men is generally 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL), depending on the lab performing the test and the methodology used. A simple blood test conducted by a physician can determine if a man has low testosterone. The average man begins to lose testosterone at the age of 40. By age 80, most men's testosterone levels have fallen to 75 percent of their peak range. That's one reason why low testosterone has sometimes been referred to as "male menopause." But the usual decline in testosterone occurs very slowly, unlike the sudden drop in the female sex hormone estrogen that is associated with actual menopause. There are a number of new therapies to treat low testosterone. In most cases a gel or hormonal patch is available for treatment, and several more options are in the pipeline. The UK's Ardana, for example, is working on a hormone gel that can be used for men with hypogonadism. About one in 200 men have hypogonadism, which in the worst cases can cause cancer and genital injury. Office of Men's Health Two bills aimed at creating an Office of Men's Health at the Department of Health and Human Services have hit Congress. Supporters say the office can begin to address the significant health concerns of men, who die an average of six years earlier than women. The Office of Men's Health is intended to be styled after the Office of Women's Health, which was created in 1991 to push researchers to include more women in clinical drug trials. The men's counterpart would focus on coordinating outreach and awareness efforts on the federal and state levels, promoting preventative health behaviors for men, and providing a forum where researchers on men's health can network and share information and findings. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) has sponsored the Senate bill, and a companion piece of legislation has been filed in the House. The House bill, which was originally filed in 2003, has lost one of its biggest champions, though. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who was championing the bill in the House, resigned from office recently after he pled guilty to soliciting bribes from government contractors. "That's created an unexpected circumstance," says Susan Wheeler, a spokesperson for Senator Crapo. The bill, however, is still alive and backers "expect to work their way through this."