Saturday 1 December 2012

What Is Andropause?

As males age, their testosterone levels drop by approximately 1% a year starting at age 30. By age 50, there can be up to a 50% total loss. This process is referred to as andropause. It is considered the "male menopause." This article will discuss the condition along with treatment options.


Andropause v. Menopause


Menopause is broken down to "meno," referring to the "menses" or menstruation cycle, and "pause" to stop. So it is when a woman stops producing her menstrual cycle. Andropause, then, is the pause of the production of the androgen hormones, which includes not only testosterone, the hormone we are most familiar with, but dehydroepiandrosterone as well, another important hormone. Andropause is often criticized when compared to menopause because andropause's onset is slow, lasting decades, whereas women experiencing menopause do so in a relatively short amount of time. Also, when menopause occurs in a woman, she can no longer reproduce. Men experiencing andropause sill have functioning reproductive organs (they can impregnate a women), albeit not functioning as strongly as in their youth.


Symptoms


One of the problems with andropause is it is still being studied, and the symptoms aren't as concrete and clearly defined as with women and menopause. The trouble is men tend to be reluctant about seeing a doctor when changes begin to happen, so research is limited. However, there are definitely similar traits.


Impaired memory, nervousness and depression may occur, along with fatigue, loss of energy, insomnia and the inability to concentrate. Some men can even experience what are considered cornerstone symptoms of menopause, hot flashes and profuse sweating. The body is adjusting to the lower production of the hormones, so there can be an imbalance. Certainly the most familiar sign of lower testosterone production is a lack of libido and bouts of impotence.


Treatments


Women experiencing menopause are often given Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to replenish the estrogen they are losing. Likewise, the most common treatment for andropause is HRT with testosterone supplements. There is also BHRT, (Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy), which uses plant-derived hormones identical to the ones produced in the human body. Both of these methods are tailored to the specific patient to bring the testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone amounts to a normal level to counteract the negative symptoms and allow the patient to still feel young, healthy and vibrant. There is nothing that can fully stop the affects of andropause and aging on the male body, but treatments can help patients feel better longer.


For more information about anti-aging treatments, see a specialist. If you are in Georgia, Atlanta anti-aging doctors can help find solutions right for you. Atlanta Medical Institute Atlanta, Georgia AtlantaMedicalInstitute.com. Providing useful mens health and fitness and wellness articles, writings and reviews online.

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