Men’s Health

Andropause Symptoms

Andropause, or male menopause, is caused by the gradual decline in androgens (male sex hormones).  The most notable hormonal imbalance in aging men is a reduction in free testosterone.  Beginning around age 30, men, on average, lose 2% to 3% of their testosterone per year.  Initially, declines in testosterone cause subtle symptoms: diminished energy levels, irritable mood, reduced sense of well-being, decline in concentration, fewer sexual thoughts and loss of early morning erections.  These are typically attributed to “getting older” or to psychological stressors.  As hormone levels continue to decline, more pronounced symptoms occur, including:

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Bioidentical Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)

Bioidentical testosterone supplementation has a much wider therapeutic role than just improving sexual desire and erectile function. TRT can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, prostate and colon cancers, and alleviate most or all of the above symptoms of male hormone imbalance or deficiency. In has also been shown to normalize cholesterol profiles and reverse signs of the metabolic syndrome. Other hormones, such as DHEA, growth hormone, and thyroid hormone are also very important to assess in andropause.

Recent studies have demonstrated the significant health implications associated with low testosterone levels in men:

  • Long-term testosterone replacement therapy greatly improves fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, lowers C-reactive protein and reduces risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Presented at The Endocrine Society’s 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, DC June 2009
  • Testosterone insufficiency in older men is associated with increased risk of death over the following 20 years.  Reported in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2008
  • Low testosterone concentrations were associated with increased mortality due to cardiovascular disease, cancer and all causes.  Reported in Circulation, The Journal of the American Heart Association, 2007
  • Age associated decline in anabolic hormone levels (testosterone, DHEA and growth hormone) is a strong predictor of mortality in older men.  Reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 2007
  • Low testosterone concentration was associated with diagnosed depression and dementia.  Reported in Endocrinology Practice, the Journal of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, 2007
  • Low testosterone levels were associated with increased mortality in male veterans.  Reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 2006.

Osteoporosis

Long believed to be just a “women’s disease”, there has been no organized effort to increase bone density screening in men. In fact, the method to compare the adequacy of bone density, the T-score, still compares an individual’s score with that of a healthy young woman. Currently, the National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that 1 out of every 3.5 men over age 50 will suffer a fracture due to osteoporosis in their lifetime. This number may be an underestimation due to the lack of regular screening in men. Men over age 40 need to be more concerned about their bone health. Osteoporosis is a preventable disease.