
It is common knowledge that women have to go through the menopause as they approach middle age. This involves a dramatic reduction in hormones which can have a profound effect on women. Men on the other hand, do not suffer such a quick fate and for many years, it was believed they had no such hormonal problems. However, research in recent years has suggested that men do undergo their own version of the menopause. Instead of their androgens (hormones) dropping rapidly, levels of testosterone drops over a long period of time in what is known as the male menopause or 'andropause'.
As already mentioned, the big difference between men and women is the fact that the latter's hormones drop extremely quickly as ovulation grinds to a halt. Men's testosterone levels fall at a rate that is almost imperceptible. Yet it continues for decades with symptoms such as depression and fatigue going virtually unnoticed. Women who go through the menopause find that their hormone production halts completely. It is different for men because the testes are capable of creating testosterone until a man is in his eighties.
When it comes to testosterone, not all men are created equal. It is usually the case where a young man will have more testosterone than an old man. This is because a man's testosterone level starts to drop by perhaps 1% once he reaches 30 years of age. While this may seem like an exceedingly small amount, it adds up as the years go by. Once a man hits 70, he is likely to produce less than half the testosterone that he did aged 30.
It is a mistake to blame old age alone for decreasing testosterone levels however. There are certain medical conditions which could be at fault so it is important to see a doctor and test to see if the male menopause is the reason for decreasing testosterone levels. A doctor will ask men about any symptoms they have whilst carrying out a physical exam. He or she may also perform certain tests to ensure that there are no medical reasons for the symptoms of male menopause suffered by the patient.
The patient may experience symptoms such as sleeping pattern problems which may expose low testosterone as an issue. A lack of testosterone can lead to insomnia for instance. Men with low testosterone often report a loss of sexual desire, less erections and apparent shrinking of the testes.
Other physical symptoms include an increase in body fat which may also lead to gynecomastia or swollen breasts. It is possible that men with low testosterone could lose muscle and strength while experiencing feelings of exhaustion. Mental symptoms include depression, anxiety, poor concentration and lack of motivation. Naturally, there is the possibility that other factors could be the cause of the above symptoms which are associated with aging.
It is difficult for men to talk to their physician about lack of testosterone. There is this feeling that suffering from the male menopause is emasculating when in reality, it is something that happens to every man. It is important to swallow your pride and talk candidly with your doctor about your symptoms.
The main reason to do this is of course to seek assistance. A doctor will be able to perform tests and ensure there are no underlying reasons for the lack of testosterone production. They may also recommend changes in diet and lifestyle which could have a significant effect.
It is also worth remembering that depression comes in many forms. The general view of depression which entails a lonely individual contemplating suicide is only part of the story. Depression also takes the form of anger, overworking or indulging in thrill seeking pursuits such as skydiving for example.
A second reason for seeking medical assistance is because low testosterone production has been linked to heart problems in numerous studies. Allowing the problem to pass by without doing something about it could lead to serious health issues. Men with low levels of testosterone are far more likely to suffer a fatal heart attack than men with normal levels.
There are men who seek synthetic replacement hormones but this form of treatment may be ineffective and dangerous. A safer option comes in the form of gels such as Testoforte which are less expensive, more effective and safer than their synthetic counterparts. Gels such as these have the ability to gradually restore a man's testosterone levels. Men should only be looking to produce the same level of testosterone they did at their peak as a higher rate of production could also lead to health problems so be careful.
If you think you may be suffering from low testosterone you can take the a 5 minute Online Testosterone Quiz - results will be displayed immediately on completion.

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If you think you might be or to prove to yourself that you're not then how about taking a short 5-minute testosterone quiz and finding out? Got the balls?