A Patient’s Story

Larry is a 46 year old male experiencing the symptoms of what he feels is old age.  Most days he has low energy, no desire to exercise, and, as a result, has been gaining more belly fat.  Even when he does force himself to exercise, the aches and pains he feels afterwards make it difficult to maintain a routine.  Larry’s wife refers to him as a “grumpy old man” and his lack of libido is no benefit to his marriage.  She feels most of his problems are caused by his high stress job.  In his last physical exam, his doctor prescribed a medication for his high cholesterol and told him that he was on the verge of becoming diabetic if he didn’t lose weight.  Larry is typically not a complainer, but his current declining state of health has left him feeling distraught and hopeless. 
  

What is Menopause for Men?

The medical term for menopause for men…aka “male menopause” is andropause. It means the decline in testosterone levels, which ultimately leads to a decline in overall health. 
 
Testosterone is the hormone of vitality and wellbeing in both men and women.  Men just rely more heavily on testosterone because they produce so much more of it than woman do.  Almost every cell in the human body depends on testosterone.  As testosterone levels drop to below healthy levels, cells begin to degrade and our bodies begin to age more quickly. 
 
 

What are the Symptoms of Male Menopause?

We begin to suffer many of the symptoms of premature aging which include:

• Fatigue
• Irritability or depression 
• Low exercise tolerance 
• Loss of muscle mass
• Loss of libido
• Erectile dysfunction
• Abdominal weight gain
• Indecisiveness and forgetfulness
• Declining self-confidence

What Age does Male Menopause Start?

The age of onset of andropause varies between men.  For some, it can start as early as age 25 or 30.  Most men, however, won’t experience the full impact of andropause until their mid to late forties. 
 
By this age, years of low testosterone levels have frequently manifested into more serious conditions like;

• Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance
• Obesity
• High cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Dementia
• Prostate disease

What is the Treatment?

Too prevent the conditions caused by low testosterone I begin testing men at an early age.  If the symptoms and diseases of low testosterone exist, it’s usually easily confirmed by a blood test.  If testosterone therapy is necessary, testosterone can be delivered into the body through weekly or bimonthly testosterone injections, or through the daily application of testosterone cream.
 
Men usually respond fairly quickly to testosterone therapy.  Usually I see very positive results within one to three months…energy improves, the desire and ability to exercise increases, moods become more balanced, and the youthful libido returns. 
 
To further improve the male response to testosterone therapy I frequently have to address the very lifestyle choices that lead to the problem in the first place…i.e., dietary choices, stress management, and the moderation of habits like smoking or alcohol consumption.