It is well known in the medical industry that men often only seek professional medical help as a last resort. We hope to change that at Today Integrative Health + Wellness. Our physicians have had extensive training in treating conditions that are specific to men and are committed to helping men achieve their optimal health.
Unlike healthy women, who begin to seek regular medical attention at an early age through yearly pap smears and breast exams, healthy men may not seek regular medical attention until well into their adulthood for yearly prostate exams. This is rather unfortunate since there is much that can be done for men at an early age to improve general health and quality of life. Increases in energy, stamina, and libido can be achieved through simple lifestyle changes and can make a world of difference to all men.
What is andropause?
Most individuals have heard of the term menopause, but there is a similar process that occurs in men. This process is known as andropause. Andropause is the term used for the age-associated reduction of androgen hormones in men. It is generally agreed upon that male androgen levels begin to drop after the age of forty; however the decline in sex hormones occur at a much less dramatic rate than in women. It is for this reason that a diagnosis of andropause may not be completely clear in many men.
What are androgens?
The term androgen comes from the greek “andros” (men) and “genein” (to produce). They refer to those hormones that aid in the development of male characteristics, such as body hair, muscle mass, and male organs. The two main categories of hormones that the term refers to are testosterone and androsterones such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
What are the symptoms of andropause?
Male andropause involves symptoms such as fatigue, depression, irritability and anger, reduced libido and erectile dysfunction. Other symptoms of testosterone deficiency might include a loss of motivation, a diminished sense of security, as well as diminished stamina and energy. Low testosterone levels have been associated with an increased risk for heart disease, a reduction in muscle mass, and weight gain.
Patients experiencing andropause may also experience symptoms of DHEA deficiency. These would include symptoms such as dry hair, dry skin, dry eyes, persistent fatigue or anxiety, diminished leg, pubic and axillary hair.
It should also be noted that many men actually experience an increase in the sex hormone progesterone as they get older. Symptoms of excess progesterone include waking with a feeling of grogginess, depressed feeling, water retention, decreased libido, heaviness of the extremities, sense of physical instability, and a feeling of spinning or slight dizziness.
Are there therapies available to treat andropause?
There are a variety of approaches available to treat symptoms of hormone imbalance.
At Today Integrative Health + Wellness we have found that the greatest success in treating hormone imbalance is to use an individualized approach. This may include bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (bHRT), the use of nutritional supplements, pharmaceuticals, or herbal medicine.
If bHRT is recommended we first gather information through laboratory test of hormone levels. Depending on what is warranted, we then prescribe a precise dose of bioidentical testosterone and/or DHEA through a compounding pharmacy. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to predict how an individual’s body will react to the therapy, so each patient must be carefully monitored to ensure relief of symptoms with the most minimal dosage possible. Once we have restored the proper hormone levels, we will monitor the hormone levels yearly.
