What is Andropause?
Andropause is the result of very low testosterone levels in the male body caused by aging.
By the time you reach the age of 45, you might begin to experience a phenomenon similar to female menopause - this is known as andropause. Unlike menopause, though, andropause does not have a menstruation mark to determine transition. Instead, bodily changes occur very gradually, which are usually accompanied by: mood swings, fatigue, decline in the sex drive and loss of physical dexterity.
Studies show that this decline in testosterone can put your health at risk. Going through andropause is susceptible to health problems such as heart disease and bone density depletion which can lead to Osteoporosis.
Low Levels of Male Hormone May be More Dangerous Than Previously Thought
"Low testosterone may lead to a greater risk of death, according to a study presented in June 2007 at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in Toronto.
Men with low testosterone had a 33 percent greater death risk over their next 18 years of life compared with men who had higher testosterone, according to the study conducted by Dr. Elizabeth Barrett-Connor and colleagues at the University of California at San Diego."
Since andropause occurs in men who are in their midlife, symptoms are usually easily dismissed as just another mid-life crisis. In fact many men who are going through andropause are not diagnosed correctly and often are diagnosed as being depressed (depression caused by low testosterone cannot be successfullytreated with antidepressants) rather than having low testosterone levels.
Does Andropause occur in all men?
Testosterone level decline will occur in all men if they live long enough. There is no way, however, of predicting who among us will actually experience the symptoms of andropause or how severely these symptoms will be. Neither is there an exact given age when this can occur. For most men however, andropause symptoms appear between the ages 45 and 55.
Symptoms of Andropause
Symptoms of male andropause usually include:
- fatigue or decreased energy,
- decreased libido or interest in sex,
- weight gain,
- forgetfulness,
- depression (depression caused by low testosterone CANNOT be treated with anti-depressants),
- irritability,
- low self-esteem,
- difficulties sleeping and
- bone loss.
Fatigue and Low Energy
When andropause strikes, your activity pace slows down considerably. Any form of physical activity demands more effort and you may become lethargic.
Declining Sex Drive
You do not only have less interest in sex but also have sex less frequently.
The reason for this is that men with low testosterone levels may find it difficult to enjoy sex. Testosterone is the primary hormone that controls libido. When testosterone levels decline, your libido declines as well.
Body Composition
You tend to lose about 10% of lean body mass. This muscle loss is generally accompanied by an increase in fat.
Youa are likely more obese and tend to experience related health issues due to excessive weight. You may, but not always, suffer from gynecomastia (man boobs).
Forgetfulness, Inability to Concentrate
Another syndrome of andropause is memory loss. Although even healthy men can occasionally forget, there's a noticeable change in the ability to retain information for andropausal men. Also as the condition worsens, it becomes more and more difficult to focus and to concentrate.
Feelings of Anxiety, Depression, Irritability
Events or actions of others that were once easily dealt with become more difficult to comprehend.
Confusion, Indecision, Lower Self-Confidence
Since most andropausal men tend to gain weight, the consequence of this is very low self-esteem. Along with this, you begin to lose the ability to confidently make decisions and to solve problems.
Lack of Sleep
Andropause can cause disruption in sleep patterns. You often find it difficult to fall asleep and even when you do, you have a difficult time staying asleep. As a consequence, you are usually irritable and experience fatigue during the day.
Osteoporosis
Bone loss will happen and can be considered another symptom of male menopause. Women often begin losing bone mass in their thirties, whereas for men bone loss only begins at the onset of andropause.
Take the Testosterone Quiz
If you want to eliminate these symptoms you probably need testosterone replacement therapy but first you should confirm that low testosterone is the problem.
To check if you're suffering from low testosterone take the Quiz. Your results will be shown immediately on completion..
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