Testosterone

But in this study only nine symptoms were linked to low testosterone levels. These were:

Sexual symptoms: fewer morning erections, ­difficulty maintaining an erection and fewer sexual thoughts

Physical performance: ­being unable to do vigorous activity like running or ­lifting heavy objects, the inability to walk one kilometre and difficulty bending down.

Psychological symptoms: Loss of energy, sadness and fatigue.

Symptoms such as ­anxiety, insomnia and poor concentration were not shown to be linked to low testosterone but may be precipitated by the ­adjustment to middle life that men have to go through.

Treatment

So the male menopause does appear to exist but only two per cent of the 3,300 men tested in the study had symptoms linked to low testosterone, ­showing it's very rare.

This study helps identify the men who will benefit from testosterone ­replacement and those who won't as the hormone has been linked to prostate cancer.

If you're over 40 and experiencing all the three sexual symptoms and ­maybe some of the non-sexual ones too it's worth asking your GP to check your testosterone levels.

If they are low then you may ­benefit from ­testosterone replacement treatment. This can be done by tablets or patches.