ANDROPAUSE

You may have heard the term before, or heard it referred to as the male counterpart to menopause, but you also may still find yourself asking, “What is Andropause?”

Testosterone is the hormone responsible for deep voices, muscle mass, and facial and body hair patterns found in males. As men get older, the level of testosterone in the body and production of sperm gradually becomes lower, and they experience physical and psychological symptoms as a result of these low levels. This is part of the natural aging process and it is estimated that testosterone decreases about 10% every decade after men reach the age of 30.

Andropause is typically considered to be something that happens to men 50 or older, but men much younger than that can also experience the same symptoms of low testosterone if they have a hormonal imbalance.

Symptoms of Low Testosterone

Some of the symptoms that you may experience as result of having low testosterone levels include:

• Irritability
• Depression
• Weight gain
• Muscle loss
• Low libido
• Erectile dysfunction
• Hair loss
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Memory loss
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Low energy
• Gynecomastia (man boobs)

What is Andropause Treatment?

Replacing testosterone in the blood is the most common treatment for men going through andropause. This treatment provides relief from the symptoms and helps improve quality of life in many cases. Lifestyle changes like reducing stress, exercise and a healthy diet will also help to improve your symptoms.

Testosterone replacement therapy is available in a variety of different preparations including capsules, gels, injections and pellet therapy. You should discuss with your doctor to determine which treatment is best for you and your lifestyle. It is important to keep your follow-up visits after the initial treatment begins so that your doctor can check your response to the treatment and make any necessary adjustments.