Andropause: A Real Man’s Battle

What men need to know when testosterone levels drop.

Both men and women have a lot in common. Susceptibility to the same aches and hurts;  derivation of pleasure from similar things; and neither favoured by old age.

In women, menopause signals a secondary coming of age. Men are
not spared either. Age finds men with depressed levels of the male sex hormone, testosterone.

Testosterone is the male sex hormone responsible for the development of male physical attributes and sex organs at puberty, and the normal functioning of the male reproductive system. A gradual drop in testosterone levels as a man ages–a condition termed andropause–brings many changes, mostly unpleasant like low sexual desire and erection problems.

However, unlike menopause, andropause is not quite an inevitable part of ageing. It is a much more gradual process and harder to identify.

Cause and effect

Starting around age 30, testosterone levels generally drop by 10% every 10 years. At the same time, the amount of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in the body rises. SHBG has the effect of binding to testosterone and rendering it inert, hence further reducing the effective level of bio-available testosterone in the body.

Individuals respond differently to this drop and not all will experience symptoms severe enough to warrant medical attention. But around 30% of men in their 50s will have low enough levels of bio-available testosterone to show symptoms of andropause.

As the hormone that makes men, men, testosterone is intrinsically linked to a man’s mental and physical well-being.

Diagnosis and treatment

Although the first study on male andropause was published in the 1940s, it’s only recently that the medical community started paying attention to
the condition.

In the past, andropause symptoms might have been shrugged off as part of ageing and therefore normal. But now, sufferers should approach their physician for proper diagnosis and treatment, thus improving their quality of life.

According to doctors interviewed by Discoveryhealth.com on this topic, testosterone replacement therapy is the primary treatment for andropause. Its effects are usually noted within three to six weeks. Testosterone comes in a variety of forms, from pills, injections, patches, even creams, and this form of treatment is recommended for men suffering clear bone density loss, and in treating sexual dysfunction when other remedies do not work.

Risks

Nevertheless, testosterone replacement therapy is not without controversy. Medical studies report that such therapies can cause prostrate enlargement, accelerate progression of undiagnosed prostrate cancer; therapy offered as injections has been linked to risk of stroke, liver damage, and breast development, reports the Web site Andropause.com.

Men should always seek a physician’s advice before considering testosterone replacement therapy. In addition, notify the physician of any allergy to androgens or anabolic steroids, or if one is on any medication. Tests such as prostrate surface antigen (PSA) and digital rectal exam (DRE) should be done to rule out any undiagnosed cancer.

Other than hormone replacement therapy, good health habits like a sensible diet and adequate exercise can help somewhat. Fat and alcohol are factors in the conversion of testosterone into oestrogen. So keep these to a minimum and it’ll help keep testosterone levels from dipping further •

Deficiency in testosterone results in many symptoms:

• Depression and backache
• Depressed sex drive
• Decreased muscle, bone mass, and strength
• Increased upper and central body fat
• Possible increased risk of heart attacks