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Andropause Facts - Low Testosterone Levels Can Cause Male Menopause
What is Andropause? Studies show that this decline in testosterone can actually put men at risk for other health problems like heart disease and weak bones. This usually happens at a time in life when many men begin to question their values, accomplishments and direction. It's often difficult to realize that the changes occurring are related to more than just external conditions and is frequently associated with what is called a "Mid-Life Crises". A Gradual Hormonal Decline To compound this frustration, none of these transition changes are predictable, aside from the fact that there will be a drop in testosterone. Neither is there a way of predicting who will experience andropausal symptoms of sufficient severity to seek medical help. What Causes Andropause? Andropause is associated with low (bioavailable) testosterone levels. Every man experiences a decline of bioavailable testosterone but some men's levels dip lower than others. And when this happens these men can experience andropausal symptoms. It is estimated that 30 percent of men in their 50s will have testosterone levels low enough to be causing symptoms or putting them at risk. What Is The Impact of Low Testosterone? Due to the great variability in testosterone levels among healthy men not all will experience the same changes to the same extent. Some typical responses to low bioavailable testosterone levels include:
Are There Any Risks Associated With Andropause? Andropause & Osteoporosis Unfortunately, with advancing age and declining testosterone levels, men, like women, seem to demonstrate a similar pattern of risk for osteoporosis. What's more, approximately one in eight men over age 50 actually have osteoporosis. Two important consequences of osteoporosis are often seen as a slow but progressive rounding of the shoulders as well as a loss of height and back pain. Particularly devastating seem to be hip fractures, up to one third of patients never seem to regain full mobility. Cardiovascular Risk New evidence suggests that a similar phenomenon occurs in men as their testosterone levels diminish with age. While research is not as complete as for women, the clinical findings point to an association between low-testosterone levels and an increase in cardiovascular risk factors in men. In andropausal men, night sweats and palpitations occur because of an overactive autonomic system in response to falling testosterone levels. To assess for hypogonadism, which is in part the clinical basis of the Andropause, the doctor will check for physical signs in men including hair loss particularly in the armpit and genitalia. Psychological tests may be carried out to rule out depression and other mood and cognitive changes. Psychological Challenges With Andropause
The sexuality of a youthful man aged between 15 to 30 years when his testosterone was at an all time high, drops to the ebb during the Andropause. Young men often have testosterone levels exceeding 1000ng/dl. Compare this with 80 year-old men, whose average testosterone is 200ng/dl. You might say the sexuality of a man in the Andropause is down 80%, a seemingly disastrous event. In the andropausal years the mind becomes less sharp and nimble. The older male becomes less swift in mental calculations and his judgment is not as accurate as before. Although once willing to take risks of all sorts, the andropausal man becomes more conservative and fears treading in unclear waters. They no longer participate in roller coasters and bungee jumping, but rather watch these on TV instead. Most loose courage to take on new ventures and feel it is a time to retire and to "take it easy". However, fear and courage take on a different perspective in the andropausal years, especially in the older age group of the eighties and nineties. Productivity is at the core of a man's being. He feels happy when he creates something and is being noticed for it. He wants to feel contributory to his family and society. All his life he struggles to be the breadwinner for the family, and to get recognition at work for his efforts. In the days of early man, hunting and providing for his family and society was at the hub of function. Andropause is a time of decline, when he is no longer as productive as he was before. Often he makes even less money than when he was younger, and feels threatened by younger more aggressive males biting into his turf. With the passage of time, various experiences and the fall in testosterone, quite a different male may emerge in later years. The red hot male often converts to a mellow yellow version, becoming more "feminine" and "domesticated", and taking on fewer challenges in the outside world, often preferring the cozy security of family and close friends. He is much less active, prefers his couch to watch television, and becomes weaker from lack of exercise. Deep inside every man is the desire to remain young and be that little boy that he once was. This may become more marked after retirement as usually there is more spare time at hand. The andropausal man may relive his childhood days, often to the amazement of his partner or spouse! The mischief may be an extramarital affair, a new red sports car, a sudden passion for toy train sets, riding a bicycle, which he hadn't done for years, and so on. Sometimes of these childish acts may even be mistaken for Alzheimer's dementia! Andropause Treatment Options Testosterone replacement therapy is an option that must be closely monitored by a physician. Blood tests determine the current testosterone levels and those are compared to "normal" levels. The physician must then ensure that the patient only receives enough of the hormone to bring his levels back up to "normal". Too much testosterone can actually affect the body's natural ability to produce the hormone on its own. Men selecting testosterone replacement therapy as an andropause treatment have reported positive results in as little as three weeks. Andropause Treatments Testosterone injections, also synthetic, appear to be more effective, but may be painful, because the hormone must be injected directly into a muscle. Transdermal patches are worn on the skin and many people find them uncomfortable. A natural testosterone gel which is applied directly to the skin was approved for use by the FDA in 2000 and appears to be very effective as an andropause treatment. Men using the gel report increased energy levels, sex drive, endurance and overall muscle strength. Lifestyle changes can alleviate some of the symptoms associated with andropause. One study of men who had been previously sedentary and began a regular exercise program reported increased energy levels, sex drive and an overall sense of well-being. A good treatment program for andropause will include regular exercise and a healthy diet that comprised of foods that can naturally help boost testosterone levels.
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By
the time men are between the ages of 40 and 55, they can experience
a phenomenon similar to the female menopause, called andropause.
Unlike women, men do not have a clear-cut signpost such as the cessation
of menstruation to mark this transition. Both, however, are distinguished
by a drop in hormone levels of Estrogen in the female, testosterone
in the male. The bodily changes occur very gradually in men and
may be accompanied by changes in attitudes and moods, fatigue, a
loss of energy, sex drive and physical agility.
When
there is less testosterone available, the testosterone target-organ
response decreases, bringing about a variety of unpredictable changes.
Throughout
the life of a male there are several psychological issues that he
struggles with, and these challenges are often amplified during
the time of the Andropause:
Andropause
treatment may include lifestyle and dietary changes, herbal supplements
or hormone replacement therapy. Men choose different treatments
depending on the severity of their symptoms, their overall health
and the advice of their doctor. What follows is a brief description
of treatment options.
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