Testosterone level starts to decline in our late thirties, 10-15% per decade, and that leads to several health concerns that affect both men and women. In men this is called andropause.
The word Andropause is formed by combining two Greek words - andro meaning male and pauses meaning stop. Using the original meanings, we can define andropause as a condition that comes about when masculinity declines. This concept and its set of symptoms, which have been described by medical practitioners since the 1940s, are still controversial. Since it was first described in the medical literature, it has been called "male menopause." This misleading name has further clouded the scientific evidence pointing to its existence and the use of medical treatment to reduce its symptoms. Does andropause exist or not? Is there a difference between andropause and normal aging? If andropause exists, should men be treated for it?
Andropause is the result of low testosterone throughout your body. Learn how andropause can produce a profound and widespread range of symptoms.
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. 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.
What's more, 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 realise that the changes occurring are related to more than just external conditions.
Unlike menopause, which generally occurs in women during their mid-forties to mid-fifties, men's "transition" may be much more gradual and expand over many decades. Attitude, psychological stress, alcohol, injuries or surgery, medications, obesity and infections can contribute to its onset. 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 symptoms will occur in a particular individual. Each man's symptoms may be also different.
Yes and no. In fact, andropause was first described in medical literature in the 1940's. So it's not really new. But, our ability to diagnose it properly is. Sensitive tests for bioavailable testosterone weren't available until recently, so andropause has gone through a long period where it was underdiagnosed and undertreated. Now that men are living longer, there is heightened interest in andropause and this will help to advance our approach to this important life stage which was identified so long ago.
Another reason why andropause has been underdiagnosed 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's even a problem. And often physicians didn't always think of low-testosterone levels as a possible culprit. So these factors often led doctors to conclude that symptoms were related to other medical conditions (i.e. depression) or were simply related to ageing and often encouraged their patients to accept that "they were no longer spring chickens". This situation is changing. New blood testing methods are available and there is an increased interest in mens' ageing among medical researchers. So much attention is being focused on andropause that major efforts are underway to quickly share emerging scientific information with the international medical community.
Are you feeling irritable, tired all of the time and just don't have the same enthusiasm for things? Take this quiz to find out if you have the symptoms of andropause.
Andropause is a hormone-related condition of low-testosterone. It usually occurs in males aged 40 and onwards. Take this test and find out if you have the symptoms of andropause.
I have a decrease in strength and/or endurance
I have a lack of energy
I have a decrease in my sex drive (libido)
I am more sad and/or grumpy than usual
I have lost height
I have noticed a decreased enjoyment in life
I have noticed a recent deterioration in my ability to play sports
There has been a recent deterioration in my work performance
My erections are less strong
I am falling asleep after dinner
Testosterone is an essential male hormone. Discover why testosterone levels are crucial for sexual functioning and play a major role in preventing osteoporosis and heart disease.
Hormone replacement therapy can be highly effective for males with low testosterone. Find out how treatment can benefit you both physically and mentally.
Q: Does having to take testosterone mean that I'm somehow less "manly"?
A: Not at all. In fact, even the most "macho" men can develop this condition.
Q: Does Viagra have the same actions as testosterone?
A: Testosterone replacement therapy works differently from Viagra, which acts on the penis only by maintaining an erection. Testosterone works on the whole body and all aspects of sexual response. Testosterone is the hormone of sexual desire in both men and women. As a result, if testosterone levels are low, so is the desire for sex. Erectile dysfunction (or ED) is a complex problem that requires a thorough psychological and physical exam. Physicians may use a combination of approaches to treat ED, however, Viagra may treat one part of the man. Testosterone replacement therapy not only improves a man’s erectile quality, it can improve sexual desire and prevent debilitating diseases like osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
Q: I am already taking so many medications. Should I learn to age gracefully without taking any more medicines?
A: It took many years for women to accept hormone replacement therapy. Estrogens are known to offer postmenopausal women many physical benefits, improve their psychological well-being and therefore their overall quality of life.
Q: I am 72 years old. Am I too old to start testosterone therapy?
A: No patient is too old to start testosterone therapy if it is clearly indicated. As for any medication, testosterone should be taken under a physician's care, with appropriate follow-up evaluations.
Q: Doesn't testosterone make men aggressive and hostile?
A: Because of reports of the abuse of anabolic steroids by athletes, testosterone has suffered a negative public image. The perception is that testosterone is responsible for undesirable male traits such as aggression and hypersexuality. And some people have developed a fear that it will “bring out the beast in men”. These, of course, are myths. They stem from results of testosterone being used by men with normal testosterone levels who took testosterone at doses which were much higher than supplementation doses that are used in men going through andropause.
Q: I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Can I take testosterone?
A: No. In men who have an existing cancer of the prostate, testosterone can promote its growth. This is why testosterone replacement is not recommended for men with prostate cancer.
Q: I have an enlarged prostate. Can I take testosterone?
A: The prostate slowly enlarges as men age. And in some men, testosterone can cause this process to speed up. Consequently, some men with enlarged prostates can qualify for testosterone therapy, but others do not. Only a physician can make the decision of whether you qualify. If you do take testosterone replacement, your physician will monitor the health of your prostate with regular (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood tests and physical examinations.
Tongkat Ali is one of the most widely used herbal medication in Southeast Asia, primarily because of its power to enhance libido and sexual function. Apart from yohimbe, Tongkat Ali is the only herbal medication that has been scientifically proven to work as an aphrodisiac.
Traditionally it's been used to support:
Sexual drive in men
General health and vitality
Energy levels
Healthy blood circulation