WHAT IS ANDROPAUSE
Just as women experience a drop in estrogen levels after menopause, "andropause" is a term used to describe the decline in testosterone levels as a man ages. It is important to know that andropause does not manifest itself in the same way as menopause, however there is a significant decrease in testosterone levels around the age of 40 that causes similar symptoms to it.
WHAT CAUSES ANDROPAUSE?
Men's testosterone levels have been in steady decline for the past 60 years. Normal levels of testosterone in men are constantly being revised downwards as we expect modern men to have less and less of this important hormone. Although we are not sure of the cause, we know that there are a number of factors that may play a role, such as the wider use of plastics, rising obesity rates and birth control pills being disposed of incorrectly (e.g. down the household drain) and enter the water table, are then bound by plants and pass through the food chain.
In addition to this general decline, we know that men over the age of 30 experience a decline in their testosterone levels of about 1% each year. This is the main cause of andropause, as testosterone levels slide to a tipping point around the same age that women experience a decline in their own hormone production. This is likely caused by a combination of increasing levels of SHBG (sex binding hormone) and decreasing production of testosterone by the Leydig cells in the testicles over the years.
DIAGNOSIS OF ANDROPAUSE
The decrease in testosterone levels is due to a decrease in the production of testosterone by the testicles and an increase in the production of SHBG (sex binding hormone). Andropause can therefore be diagnosed with blood tests and evaluation of symptoms by a medical specialist.
Similarities Between Andropause and Menopause
-They often appear after the age of 40. The slow decline in testosterone levels in men combined with the lower bioavailability of free testosterone leads to an accumulation of problems around the age of 40.
-They can be treated with hormone replacement therapy, since both conditions are the result of a decrease in the main sex hormone.
-Many of the signs and symptoms of menopause are the same as in andropause.
CONCLUSION
Andropause is a term we don't hear as often, at least not as often as we hear the term menopause. However, the drop in testosterone levels seen in the average man as he ages combined with a further decrease in bioavailable testosterone is causing more and more men to suffer from low testosterone symptoms.
In the modern western world, where testosterone levels are slipping year after year, a man's health and happiness depend on maintaining optimal levels. While testosterone often receives negative publicity, it is a fact that it improves men's mental and physical health when at the right levels, and can also improve relationships and the social life of the modern man. If you are starting to notice any of the symptoms of low testosterone, then it is very important to get tested.