Andropause – Male Menopause – Androgen Replacement Therapy

The Facts: Andropause, also known as the male menopause or MANopause, is the result of a gradual drop in testosterone which is an androgen, giving the condition its name. In many cases, bioidentical hormones can be part of the solution. When men get into their early 30s, they begin losing testosterone at a rate of one to two percent a year. According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 4-5 million men have symptoms of low testosterone levels and only 5-10% of these men will seek treatment.

A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report analyzed male hormones and found that the testosterone levels in most 70 year old men were 10 percent of the level in males that are 25 years old. By the time men are between the ages of 40 and 55 they can begin experiencing symptoms of andropause.

The Importance of Testosterone: Testosterone assists the male body in building protein and is crucial for normal sexual drive and stamina, and in producing erections. Testosterone also contributes to several metabolic functions including bone formation, liver function, prostate gland growth and production of blood cells in bone marrow.

Other Factors: While testosterone is declining in men, the Sex Binding Hormone Globulin (SHBG), also called androgen-binding protein, increases in levels. SHGB inhibits a substantial portion of remaining testosterone from working; the remaining working testosterone is referred to as bioavailable testosterone. Bioavailable testosterone declines with time, causing gradual male menopause symptom, such as hot flashes in men.

The symptoms of male menopause:

Men's symptoms appear over the course of a decade or more and it becomes a very slow, insidious process that they attribute to getting old. Beyond undesirable symptoms, studies show that the decline of testosterone in andropause may put men at risk for heart disease and bone loss. Symptoms of andropause are also associated with stress levels, nutrition quality, fitness routine and the environmental toxins the body is exposed to on a daily basis.

While familiar among doctors, surprisingly few men are aware of male menopause or andropause. The condition has been found in medical literature since the 1940's, but since doctors lacked a method to properly diagnose the condition and because the symptoms are so gradual and vary from man to man, little was done to educate the population. As a result, andropause is under diagnosed and undertreated.

Luckily, state-of-the-art blood testing methods, like those used by these expert physicians, have been created that can properly monitor testosterone and diagnose andropause. The condition is now much better understood, as is treatment. BodyLogicMD affiliated physicians have been extensively trained in andropause and its treatment of natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

Perhaps the best news for men is that while hormone imbalance may be a natural effect of aging, they are easily correctable. You don't have to live with uncomfortable symptoms. Testosterone replacement therapy is a treatment for men with low testosterone who want to boost their health and overall well-being. However, it is important to remember that androgen replacement therapy is not a one-size-fits all solution. Each man's anatomy and physiology is unique, so it is important that you discuss the benefits and risks of testosterone replacement with a qualified hormone therapy expert. With properly supervised treatment, you can experience a healthier, younger and more vital self.

Simple hormone testing will inform you and your BodyLogicMD affiliated physician regarding your current hormone levels, at which point a customized treatment can be created to not only adjust your testosterone levels, but other hormone levels as well. Androgen replacement therapy is paired with an individualized nutrition, supplement and fitness program that will optimize your hormone replacement therapy. Most of what is attributed to aging is in fact, symptoms of hormonal imbalance.

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Andropause - Male Menopause - Androgen Replacement Therapy

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