Statistics are only useful if you know where they come from and what to do with them. We kept this list to figures from national health agencies, major cancer and heart organizations, and well-known cohort studies, and we rounded where the underlying sources vary from year to year. Figures change as agencies publish new data, so follow the sources at the bottom for the latest numbers.
One theme repeats throughout: many of the biggest risks for men are measurable long before symptoms appear. Blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and hormone levels can all be tracked, and an at-home testosterone test kit is one way to add a baseline number to that picture.
Lifespan and Leading Causes of Death
Men live about five years less than women
CDC data show U.S. life expectancy at birth of roughly 76 years for men and 81 years for women, a gap of about five years. The gap has persisted for decades and widened during the pandemic years.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men
The CDC reports heart disease as the leading cause of death for American men, accounting for roughly one in four male deaths. Cancer is second.
Unintentional injuries rank high, and younger
For men under about 45, unintentional injuries, including overdoses and vehicle crashes, are among the top causes of death, and men die from them at considerably higher rates than women.
What it means
The lifespan gap is not mostly biology. A large share comes from conditions that can be screened for and behaviors that can be changed, which is why baseline numbers matter more than guesses.
Heart and Metabolic Health
| Measure | Approximate U.S. figure | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Adults with hypertension | About half of men, per CDC survey data | Often silent; the main modifiable driver of heart attack and stroke |
| Adult obesity | About 40% of U.S. adults, per CDC survey data | Raises risk of diabetes, sleep apnea and lower testosterone |
| Adults with diabetes | Roughly 1 in 10 Americans diagnosed, with many more undiagnosed (CDC) | Early glucose testing catches it years sooner |
| Adults not getting enough sleep | About one in three report under 7 hours (CDC) | Short sleep is linked to weight gain and lower morning testosterone |
Heart risk and hormones overlap. Large trials have examined testosterone therapy and cardiovascular events; our guide to testosterone and heart health summarizes what the research found, including the 2023 TRAVERSE trial of more than 5,000 men, which did not find a higher rate of major cardiovascular events with treatment in men with diagnosed hypogonadism.
Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men
The American Cancer Society estimates roughly one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime, with several hundred thousand new U.S. cases each year. It is also one of the more survivable cancers when found while localized.
Lung cancer causes the most cancer deaths
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in men, followed by prostate and colorectal cancer.
Colorectal screening starts at 45
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends average-risk adults begin colorectal cancer screening at 45. Rates in adults under 50 have been rising.
Prostate screening is a shared decision between you and a clinician, usually considered from about age 50 or earlier with risk factors such as family history. If you are on or considering hormone therapy, see TRT and prostate health for how PSA monitoring fits in.
Mental Health
Men die by suicide at roughly four times the rate of women
CDC data show men account for around 80% of suicide deaths in the U.S., even though women attempt more often.
Men are less likely to seek mental health care
National surveys consistently find that men are less likely than women to report receiving counseling or mental health treatment, even at similar symptom levels.
Depression and hormones overlap
Low mood, irritability and fatigue are shared symptoms of depression and low testosterone, so one does not rule out the other. Read TRT and mental health for the evidence and its limits.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, in the U.S.
Testosterone and Sexual Health
| Finding | Source | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| About 39% of men 45 and older had low total testosterone in one primary care study | Mulligan T et al., Int J Clin Pract 2006 (HIM study) | Low levels are common, though thresholds and assays vary |
| Total testosterone declines roughly 1% per year with age | Feldman HA et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002 (Massachusetts Male Aging Study) | Decline is gradual, and many men stay in range |
| About half of men aged 40 to 70 reported some degree of erectile difficulty | Feldman HA et al., J Urol 1994 (MMAS) | Common, and often a cardiovascular warning sign |
| Only about 2% of men had symptoms plus consistently low levels in a European cohort | Wu FCW et al., N Engl J Med 2010 (EMAS) | Symptoms plus labs, not labs alone, define deficiency |
The last two rows illustrate why headlines about "low T epidemics" need care. Many men have a low number without symptoms, and many have symptoms from sleep, weight or stress rather than hormones. The Endocrine Society's 2018 guideline recommends diagnosing deficiency only with both symptoms and consistently low morning testosterone on repeat testing. Our state of mens hormone health 2026 report covers the wider landscape, and gut health and testosterone looks at one often overlooked contributor.
Fertility is part of the picture too: male factors contribute to roughly half of couples' infertility cases, according to widely cited reproductive medicine reviews, yet men are tested less often than women.
Men and Healthcare
Men are less likely to have a regular checkup
Federal survey data find men visit doctors less often than women and are less likely to have a usual source of care.
Convenience is a real barrier
Time off work, scheduling and awkwardness are commonly cited reasons for skipping visits. Remote options reduce one of these. A blood test without a blood draw from a clinic can be collected at home and mailed to a lab, and details of the kit are on the at-home lab kit page.
A practical baseline for most adult men
Blood pressure, a cholesterol and glucose panel, age-appropriate cancer screening and a conversation about sleep, mood and sexual health. Add hormone testing if you have symptoms. Heyday health offers a symptom quiz to get started.
How to Use These Numbers
Population statistics describe groups, not you. A one-in-eight lifetime prostate cancer risk does not mean you have a one-in-eight chance this year, and a national obesity rate says nothing about your own waist or glucose. The value of these figures is in showing where men as a group tend to be caught off guard, so you can check those areas first.
In your 20s and 30s
Injuries, substance use and mental health dominate. Build the habits that pay off later: regular sleep, activity, a primary care relationship, and a first blood pressure and cholesterol reading. If you are trying to start a family, remember that semen analysis is the standard first step for male fertility.
In your 40s
Cardiometabolic risk starts to show up. Weight creeps up, sleep gets shorter, and testosterone begins its slow drift. This is a sensible decade for a full baseline: blood pressure, lipids, fasting glucose or A1c, and colorectal screening from 45. If you have fatigue, low drive or mood changes, add morning testosterone to the list, ideally with a repeat if the first value is low.
In your 50s and beyond
Cancer screening and heart risk become central. Talk with a clinician about PSA testing, review medications that affect sexual function, and keep tracking the numbers over time rather than relying on a single reading. Trends tell you more than one-off values.
Common mistakes when reading statistics
Three errors come up repeatedly. First, mistaking prevalence for personal risk. Second, treating a lab cutoff as a diagnosis: a testosterone value near a threshold needs symptoms and a repeat test before anyone concludes anything. Third, assuming that because a problem is common it is normal. Erectile difficulty, persistent low mood and constant fatigue are common, but they are also useful signals that something is worth looking into.
FAQ
What is the biggest health risk for men?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American men, followed by cancer. Both are strongly influenced by blood pressure, glucose, weight, smoking and screening.
Why do men die younger than women?
Higher rates of heart disease, injuries, overdose and suicide, combined with less preventive care, account for much of the difference.
How common is low testosterone?
Estimates vary with definition. Studies using lab cutoffs alone find it in a sizable minority of older men, but studies requiring symptoms too find it in a few percent.
Can I check my testosterone at home?
Yes. An at-home testosterone test kit collects a sample for a partner lab, and results are best interpreted with a clinician alongside symptoms.
Sources
- CDC / National Center for Health Statistics. Mortality in the United States and Leading Causes of Death (latest data briefs).
- CDC. Adult Obesity Facts; National Diabetes Statistics Report; High Blood Pressure facts; Sleep and Sleep Disorders.
- American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures (current year).
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Colorectal Cancer Screening Recommendation, 2021.
- CDC. Suicide data and statistics.
- Mulligan T et al. Prevalence of hypogonadism in males aged at least 45 years: the HIM study. Int J Clin Pract. 2006.
- Feldman HA et al. Age trends in the level of serum testosterone and other hormones in middle-aged men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002.
- Feldman HA et al. Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Urol. 1994.
- Wu FCW et al. Identification of Late-Onset Hypogonadism in Middle-Aged and Elderly Men. N Engl J Med. 2010.
- Bhasin S et al. Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: Endocrine Society Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018.
- Lincoff AM et al. Cardiovascular Safety of Testosterone-Replacement Therapy. N Engl J Med. 2023.
Figures are rounded and reflect the most recent public data we reviewed; check each source for current values. This article is for education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice.