Male "Menopause" - The Alternative
Anti-Aging Approach
If you are a male over the age of 40 and are suffering
from weakness, impotence, pain, stiffness, drooping
muscles, depression, anxiety, or heat intolerance,
you may be experiencing andropause.Andropause
is a syndrome resulting from the deficiency of
hormones, especially testosterone. It's onset
and symptoms may not be as dramatic as female,
but its effects can be just as serious. It is
interesting that hormone replacement is quite
routine in women but barely even addressed in
men.
The decline in hormone levels in both sexes
has an adverse impact on one's state of health.
Starting around age 25, DHEA and testosterone
levels begin a progressive downward trend. With
falling hormones, it is much harder to maintain
muscle mass. Things begin to sag and fat begins
to form increasingly thick layers around the lower
back and abdomen. Stamina is affected and exercise
intolerance occurs. Osteoporosis is well-documented
in women and occurs in men as well. This can result
in hip and vertebral compression fractures. Wrinkles
that carve deep crevices in the face are partially
due to testosterone deficiency. Libido is reduced
and even impotence may develop.
These changes
are all a result of male menopause. Hormone replacement
has been available for women for decades and the
positive results continue to multiply. In Anti-Aging
medicine, it is expected that maintenance of hormone
levels in the youthful range (that of a 25-30
year old) will provide substantial health benefit.
Proper monitoring of hormone replacement is a
relatively recent innovation that makes this therapy
much safer. We can now insure proper dosages in
the accepted normal physiologic range. Cancer
risk is greatly reduced by this refined approach
to replacement therapy.
The decline in testosterone
occurs as a result of multiple causes and treatment
should be directed accordingly. Aromatase (an
enzyme that converts Testosterone into Estradiol)
increases as we gain years. This increases raises
the free estrogens and lowers the free Testosterone.
Prostate cancer is correlated with high circulating
estrogens. Aromatase inhibitors, such as chrysin,
nettle extract, and Arimidex can inhibit aromatse.
Testicular atrophy leads to decreased testosterone
production.
A course of treatment with HCG stimulates
testicular development and can boost Testosterone
production. A complete vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant
supplement plus a proper diet help to correct
nutritional deficiencies. DHEA and possible melatonin
replacement also serve as alternatives and as
adjuncts to testosterone therapy. A diet that
includes a large amount of legumes, especially
soy, is helpful in providing the necessary building
blocks for our bodies to manufacture hormones.
Maintaining cholesterol in the normal range (not
to high or to low) is also critical for hormone
synthesis.
Testosterone replacement can be accomplished
by the use of creams, pills or even injection.
It is best if the physiologic patterns natural
to the body are mimicked, which makes injection
less favorable. Creams containing natural testosterone
are well absorbed through the skin, bypass metabolism
by the liver, and are easy to apply, thus making
them superior to pills. The potential risks of
testosterone administration include increases
in red cell mass, worsening of sleep apnea, changes
in plasma lipid levels, and fluid retention.
There
is some concern that testosterone replacement
might exacerbate benign prostatic hypertrophy
(BPH). There is no change in PSA with testosterone
therapy. You are not a candidate for this replacement
therapy if you have an active testicular or prostate
cancer. Finally, testosterone supplementation
may produce adverse side effects if administered
to men with normal levels, hence the importance
of monitoring.With proper replacement, you can
expect to regain muscle mass, increase bone density,
increase stamina, increase libido, reduce your
risk for a variety of cancers.
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