While most people consider menopause to be a problem that only effects females, experts say that many men suffer from similar hormone deficiencies as they grow older, Unfortunately, this can increase their chances of suffering from erectile dysfunction.

In fact, a urologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago recently estimated that as many as 5 million American men currently suffer from low testosterone levels.

While the number is higher than most people might imagine, Dr. Robert Brannigan, who made the estimate, believes that the problem is likely to be even more widespread, as symptoms of the condition are often ignored.

“This is a highly prevalent disorder,” he said. “Unfortunately, we estimate that 95 percent of cases are undiagnosed and therefore untreated. When ignored, symptoms can seriously disrupt one’s quality of life.”

In addition to erectile dysfunction, symptoms of hypogonadism - or “male menopause” - include fatigue, weight gain, hair loss and depression.

Brannigan said that hormone production drops quickly in women when they begin going through menopause. However, the transition is much more gradual in men, which can make symptoms difficult to notice. He recommended that older men have their testosterone levels regularly examined by a professional.

There is also a range of products on the market that may alleviate the symptoms of erectile dysfunction and improve the affected men’s sex life.