Men's Health

In men, the gradual decline in male hormones, particularly testosterone, begins in a man’s late 40s or 50s. This decline in hormones is known as andropause. Andropause is a common progression in the aging process, while men are affected to varying degrees and at different ages, virtually all experience effects of hormonal imbalance.

Andropause: a slow, almost imperceptible decline in various bodily functions.

"Grumpy Old Man Syndrome"
"My get up and go has got up and went"

Typically Symptoms of Andropause

Reduced sex drive

Heart disease and Atherosclerosis

Erectile dysfunction

Osteoporosis

Ejaculatory problems

Prostate enlargement/cancer

Depression

Muscle weakness

Disturbed Sleep

Low energy

For the man with these symptoms, medication may sound like an easy answer. But before rushing to the doctor for a prescription, make some changes in your lifestyle, and dietary habits. Begin by stopping all unnecessary medications, avoiding alcohol, and quitting smoking. Then, start eating a healthy diet, begin an exercise regimen, and take vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements.

Medications: Many prescription medications can interfere with sexual function. The biggest culprits are drugs that lower blood pressure including diuretics, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers. Talk with your doctor about stopping your regimen or trying alternative medications. Any illegal drugs should be stopped.

Lifestyle: Stop or limit alcohol and tobacco. Excessive drinking can cause the testicles to shrink, reducing the supply of testosterone. Smoking can inhibit the ability to achieve erection.

Diet: It’s time to eliminate the junk food that can clog arteries and decrease blood flow to vital organs. The goal should be a 100% natural food diet with little or no chemical additives, flavorings, or preservatives. Adequate protein is necessary such as fish, chicken, turkey and lean beef.

Exercise: Studies show that exercise increases interest and ability to participate in sex. A minimum of a half an hour of exercise four times a week is recommended.

Vitamins: Start with a high-potency multiple vitamin/mineral combination daily. This should include 400 IU of vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), 30 mg of zinc, 2 mg of copper, and 2 grams of vitamin C. These amounts can be taken as separate supplements in addition to the multi-vitamin/mineral supplement.

If these changes do not improve your symptoms, testosterone, DHEA and estrogen levels should be evaluated. These levels can be accurately measured, either through serum, saliva or urine testing. At this time, saliva testing is perhaps the most accessible and least intrusive method of testing.

Reported Symptoms of Low Testosterone

Decrease libido and potency

Passive attitudes

Early senility

Timid

Memory failure

Fatigue

Reduced intellectual agility

Nervousness/anxiety

Loss of ability to concentrate

Touchiness/irritability

Moodiness/emotional

Feeling weak

Depression

Reduced interest

Reduced activity

Inner unrest

For most men, problems arise when estrogen levels rise and the testosterone levels falls. This occurs as the testosterone producing cells of the body begin to die off, and an increase in body fat produces more estrogen. Assuming lab values and symptoms point to a hormonal imbalance, there are several ways to address this problem.

1. Reduce estrogen and increase testosterone through diet, exercise and supplements such as zinc and vitamin C. Testosterone is converted to estrogen through an aromatase enzyme. Estrogen is stored in body fat and speeds up the activity of this enzyme. Therefore, diet and exercise in a weight loss plan can cut down the estrogen buildup. Zinc and vitamin C supplements also decrease the conversion of testosterone to estrogen.

2. In some cases pro-hormones like DHEA, pregnenolone, progesterone and androstenedione can be beneficial. These hormones are usually available in non-prescription formulas or can be compounded by Rx Options. Pro-hormones rely on the body for conversion to more active hormones. Typical daily doses are 25 to 50 mg of DHEA, 5 to 10 mg of progesterone as a topical cream or 50 mg of androstenedione. Long term use of these pro-hormones is advisable only if your physician is monitoring your progress.

3. If the above methods are unsuccessful, testosterone levels can be increased through natural testosterone supplementation. (Prior to supplementation your physician may wish to check you cholesterol, PSA, CBC and hematocrit.)

Types of Testosterone Available

Oral pills: Taking testosterone as a pill is not very effective because testosterone is converted by the liver into inactive byproducts. Synthetic methyltestosterone avoids this conversion problem, but is not recommended because of adverse side effects.

Intramuscular injections: This is a very common way to give testosterone and it seems to work well. Doses are given every two or three weeks, but there is no controlled release mechanism. Because of this, many men experience high levels the first week, then a noticeable decline in effect after that. Worse yet, the body cannot store excess amounts of testosterone so some of it will be converted to estrogen. In a few cases, this can result in breast enlargement.

Topical: At this time, topical application appears to be the most effective way to give testosterone. Topical creams, lotions, and gels have been used with good results. The commercially available gel is started at 50 mg per day and applied over a large skin area. Creams and lotions of varying strengths can be custom made by compounding pharmacies like Rx Options, for men who do not achieve optimal results with the gel product, or prefer to apply a more concentrated amount on a smaller area.

Sublingual or buccal: Testosterone drops, tablets or troches can be dissolved under the tongue or between the teeth and cheek for easy absorption. Using this dosage form may require taking the medication up to four times daily. Dosages can range from 10 to 40 mg daily.

Testosterone therapy has been shown to be quite effective in relieving symptoms of andropause and restore drive, health, potency and a sense of renewed vitality. By following these positive steps to restore normal hormonal balance, many men can regain vitality and zest for life and enjoy their mature years fully and healthily.