Unfortunately men are far less health-conscious than women. Too few men take advantage of screening programs and even when they have symptoms they are often not keen on going to the doctor.

The non-specific first signs of a testosterone deficiency develop insidiously and many men do not take them seriously. This means that the disorder often goes unrecognized - and unfortunately untreated - for a long time.

Many men are also uncertain how to find the right doctor.

People usually feel that they can speak to their family doctor about most things. Anyway, this is always a good place to start. Family doctors are usually general practitioners who can refer you to other specialists when necessary.

Although doctors specializing in men's health are still the exception, there are various medical specialties that focus particularly on specific male problems.

Urologists specialize in disorders of the (male) reproductive organs, kidneys and urinary tract. Screening for prostate cancer and the treatment of prostate diseases are the province of the urologist. Potency problems are usually also treated by the urologist.

Endocrinology is the branch of medicine dealing with hormone function and hormone-related diseases. Physicians therefore often refer patients to an endocrinologist for further investigations, e.g. in the case of testosterone-related developmental disorders in puberty.

Specialists in reproductive medicine are consulted if there is an unfulfilled desire for fertility, as a testosterone deficiency can be associated with reduced fertility.