What is Andropause?
(The Male Menopause)
Andropause is the impact of decreasing androgens, also called, “Male Menopause.” It is a normal part of aging, although, for some men it is accompanied by a gradual and undesired decline in their sexuality, mood and overall energy. Sometimes it can even expose men to more serious health risks.
By the time men are between the ages of 40 and 55, they can experience this phenomenon similar to the female menopause. Unlike women, me do not have a clean-cut signpost. Yet both are distinguished by a drop in hormone levels. 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.
Studies show that this decline in testosterone can actually put one at risk for other health problems like heart disease and weak bones. Since all this happens at a time of life when many men begin to question their values, accomplishments and direction in life, it’s often difficult to realize that the changes occurring are related to more than just external conditions.
Although with age, a decline in testosterone levels will occur in virtually all men. There is no way of predicting who will experience andropausal symptoms of sufficient severity to seek medical help. Neither is it predictable at what age the symptoms will occur in a particular individual. Each man’s symptoms may also be different.
This phenomenon is not new, in fact, andropause was first described in medical literature in the 1940’s. But, our ability to diagnose it properly is. Now that men are living longer, there is a heightened interest in andropause and this will help to advance the approach to this important life stage which was identified so long ago.
One reason why andropause has been under diagnosed over the years is that symptoms can be vague and can vary a lot among individuals. Some men find it difficult to admit that there is even a problem. And often, physicians didn’t always think of low-testosterone levels as a possible culprit. These factors often led doctors to conclude that symptoms were related to other medical conditions or were simply related to aging, and often encouraged their patients to accept that “they were no longer spring chickens.”
There is great variability in testosterone levels among healthy men so not all will experience the same changes to the same extent. But, typical responses to low levels include:
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Low sex drive
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Emotional, psychological and behavioral changes
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Decreased muscle mass
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Loss of muscle strength
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Increased upper and central body fat
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Osteoporosis or weak bones and back pain
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Cardiovascular risk
The follow treatments have been found to be effective:
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Hormone replacement therapy
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Exercise, dietary changes, stress reduction
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Take zinc and vitamins C and E
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Avoid grapefruit
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Eat soy products, lower fat foods, vegetables and tomato products, the last of which can reduce the risk of prostate cancer
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Drinking plenty of water is a key component for healthy living
Do You Have Andropause? Take This Quiz!
Take this quiz and find out if you have the symptoms of andropause. To complete the quiz, simply fill in the answers by checking YES or NO. Don’t forget to answer all the questions to get your results.
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Do you have a decrease in strength and/or endurance? YES NO
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Do you have a lack of energy? YES NO
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Do you have a decrease in your sex drive (libido)? YES NO
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Are you more sad and or grumpy than usual? YES NO
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Have you lost height? YES NO
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Have you noticed a decreased enjoyment in life? YES NO
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Have you noticed a recent deterioration in your ability to play sports? YES NO
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Has there been a recent deterioration in your work performance? YES NO
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Are your erections less strong? YES NO
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Are you falling asleep after dinner? YES NO
Every person is different. And not all men going through this stage of life will experience it exactly the same way. The passage into middle age is a complicated phase. It’s full of changes at all levels – personal, social economic, family, etc. It may, therefore, be difficult to differentiate your changes from the symptoms of other conditions, unrelated to andropause.
Nevertheless, if you did answer YES to Question #1 or Question #7, or to any other three questions, it would be worthwhile to discuss these symptoms with your physician, and have your “bioavailable” testosterone level checked thorough a simple blood test.
Don’t forget to take this quiz with you when you visit your physician.
