What Is Male Menopause?
“Male menopause” is the more common term for andropause. It describes age-related changes in male hormone levels. The same group of symptoms is also known as testosterone deficiency, androgen deficiency, and late-onset hypogonadism.
Male menopause involves a drop in testosterone production in men. It’s often affiliated with hypogonadism. Both conditions involve lowered testosterone levels and similar symptoms.
If you’re a man, testosterone is a hormone produced in your testes. It does more than fuel your sex drive. It also fuels changes during puberty, fuels your mental and physical energy, maintains your muscle mass, regulates your fight-or-flight response, and regulates other key evolutionary features.
Male menopause differs from female menopause in several ways. For one thing, not all men experience it. For another, it doesn’t involve a complete shutdown of your reproductive organs. However, sexual complications may arise as a result of your lowered hormone levels.
Symptoms of Male Menopause
Male menopause can cause physical, sexual, and psychological problems. They typically worsen as you get older. They can include:
- low energy
- depression or sadness
- decreased motivation
- lowered self-confidence
- difficulty concentrating
- insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- increased body fat
- reduced muscle mass and feelings of physical weakness
- gynecomastia, or development of breasts
- decreased bone density
- erectile dysfunction
- reduced libido
- infertility
You may also experience swollen or tender breasts, decreased testicle size, loss of body hair, or hot flashes. Low levels of testosterone associated with male menopause have also been linked to osteoporosis. This is a condition where your bones become weak and brittle. These are rare symptoms. They typically affect men at the same age as women entering menopause.
Changes in Testosterone Over the Years
Before you hit puberty, your testosterone levels are low. Then they increase as you sexually mature. Testosterone is the hormone that fuels typical changes involved in male puberty, such as:
- growth of your muscle mass
- growth of your body hair
- lowering of your voice
- changes in your sexual functioning.
As you age, your testosterone levels will typically begin to drop. According to the Mayo Clinic, testosterone levels tend to decline an average of 1 percent per year after men turn 30. Some health conditions can cause earlier or more drastic declines in your testosterone levels.
Several studies show NATURAL testosterone to be protective and preventative of many disease states!
Men with low testosterone are 3 times more likely to get Alzheimer’s dementia. In a recent study, men over 55 with higher levels of testosterone showed significant reduction in coronary artery disease risk and heart attacks. Natural testosterone builds bone by 8.3% per year, preventing and reversing osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Low testosterone increases cortisol and insulin levels, both of which increase belly fat and increase your risk of type 2 diabetes!
Find out if your hormones are out of whack! Seek an expert in hormone balance. If you feel off, don’t just fill a prescription given to quell symptoms if they tell you “your hormones are normal”. What is “normal” for the average population in your age group may not be “normal”, or optimal, for you. We know an optimal testosterone level in males is around 800-1100 (ten times higher than women), a “normal” lab reference range can be anywhere from 200-1100 for men, depending on the reporting lab! Men are typically symptomatic under 400 and women under 40, but that’s in the “normal range”!
Ask us about how we can use natural hormone replacement therapy to balance your levels, and keep them in the optimal range 24/7. Additionally, complete thyroid panels and vitamin D3 levels should be checked as testosterone, Vitamin D3 and thyroid function all work together synergistically for optimal health.
Specifically for Men FAQ’s