Andropause - Male Menopause and How To Fix It

Andropause is gradually becoming known to more doctors and their male patients as the male equivalent of menopause.

It is the gradual drop in androgen hormones as men age. It has been addressed by antiaging physicians with bioidentical hormone therapy. Let’s see why…..

Male Menopause?

The concept of a male equivalent to menopause would be surprising to many people, however it is very real. It is not so strange to imagine that men would also be subject to hormonal changes, which affect their health and sense of well-being.

Andropause occurs when levels of hormones such as testosterone and DHEA decline to a point where health and sense of well being is negatively impacted. This usually occurs between 40 and 55 years of age. Some of the symptoms are:

Loss of energy and vitality
Diminished sex drive
Erectile dysfunction
Loss of lean muscle mass and/or fat gain
Sub clinical depression
Loss of physical strength
Poor sleep quality
Diminished focus and concentration

Disorder or Normal Aging?

There is much controversy over this condition and whether it should be treated as a medical problem or as a normal part of the aging process. The decline in androgen hormones occurs to an extent in all men as they age, and some experts argue against medical intervention such as bioidentical hormone therapy.

Others disagree stating that the very fact that a man’s health and happiness are impacted negatively, warrants that medicine treat this as something that should be alleviated in a safe and effective way.

My own personal belief is that health care should be focused on improving health, which means that if a safe and effective treatment for diminished health is available, it should be used to help people who are experiencing these problems.

How can Andropause be Treated?

The established medical system generally does not recognize the safety and effectiveness of bioidentical hormone therapy, and relies instead on synthetic hormones when a man’s androgen hormones are low.

The problems with synthetic hormones are part of the reason why many doctors are reluctant to treat this condition, preferring to let nature take its course. Hormone therapy for men is very much misunderstood, and many doctors mistakenly believe the choice is between dangerous side effects, and just letting the normal course of aging continue.

Issue like prostate cancer, negative changes in cholesterol profiles, and other potential side effects of synthetic androgens are sited as reasons not to treat this condition.

However, natural hormone therapies can be a safe and effective answer to this problem. New approaches such as bioidentical hormones and Biosignature Modulation, offer natural alternatives to synthetic hormones.

How You Should Proceed

If you are a man suffering from the effects of andropause, there are a number of things you should know about the potential problems and benefits of hormone therapy. I would urge you to use the information on this page as a starting point and do your own research and investigation.

First, understand that there is a big difference between bioidentical hormone therapy and synthetic hormones. Synthetics use relatively high dosages of hormones that are chemically different than what your body makes. This is what causes the side effects.

Natural hormones that are identical to your body’s own androgen hormones, can now be made. They are proscribed by antiaging physicians in dosages that mimic what your body produces on a daily basis.

This combination of natural hormones and very minute dosages is the key to safely and effectively treating andropause. Your antiaging doctor will give you the necessary tests, and integrate this therapy into your total health plan to avoid any problems.

The hormones you need will be determined by blood or saliva tests. The antiaging physician will then make a determination as to which androgen hormones to proscribe, and a compounding pharmacy will custom make the product for you.

To Sum Up…..

Remember that you are in charge of your health! If you are not satisfied with your quality of life and feel that you may be suffering from the symptoms of andropause, then you need to see an antiaging physician for evaluation and treatment.