性腺功能减退症的患病率随着年龄的增加而增加。大约四分之一的美国男性总睾酮水平低于10.4nmol/ L(< 300ng/dL)(被许多专家认为是正常的低值)。[3]Araujo AB, Esche GR, Kupelian V, et al. Prevalence of symptomatic androgen deficiency in men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92:4241-4247.http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/jc.2007-1245http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17698901?tool=bestpractice.com据估计,大约 240 万名美国男性雄激素缺乏;在年龄为 40-69 岁的美国男性中,性腺功能减退症的发病率为大约是每年 481,000 例新发病例。[4]Araujo AB, O'Donnell AB, Brambilla DJ, et al. Prevalence and incidence of androgen deficiency in middle-aged and older men: estimates from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004;89:5920-5926.http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/jc.2003-031719http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15579737?tool=bestpractice.com欧洲男性老龄化研究 (EMAS) 报告,在年龄为 40-79 岁的男性中,迟发性性腺功能减退症的患病率为 2.1%。[5]Tajar A, Forti G, O'Neill TW, et al; EMAS Group. Characteristics of secondary, primary, and compensated hypogonadism in aging men: evidence from the European male ageing study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010;95:1810-1818.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20173018?tool=bestpractice.com现在公认,在糖尿病、HIV 感染、慢性阻塞性肺病、冠心病或肾脏疾病或接受阿片类药物或糖皮质激素治疗的男性患者中,性腺功能减退症的患病率更高。[6]Bhasin S, Cunningham GR, Hayes FJ, et al. Testosterone therapy in adult men with androgen deficiency syndromes: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010;95:2536-2559.http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/jc.2009-2354http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20525905?tool=bestpractice.com