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Home > Article Categories > Medical Vocational Articles > Andropause: the Male Menopause

Andropause: the Male Menopause

If you have ever listened to anyone talk about menopause, you would know that it is a common topic in the news, magazines, television since it is a worrisome topic for women. But have you ever heard about Andropause?

Andropause is the male menopause. It is due to hypogonadism or low testosterone levels. The term is associated to a sexual deterioration in men who are over 40. This is due to hormone levels dropping and is also defined as a ?natural cessation or the sexual function?. The hypogonadal man does not have adequate levels of androgens.

The loss of sexual drive is possibly the first symptom of Andropause noticed by men when they experience low sexual desires and erections fail (impotence). This is accompanied by ?Passivity?, which means no erections during the sleep time or in the early mornings.

The Testosterone (T) is the principal androgen, 95% is made by the testes, which the liver synthesizes for cholesterol and metabolizes and is then excreted in the urine. Testosterone can be bioconverted in to two other steroids and this conversion regulates the T activity.

Testosterone also controls the structure of the proteins and assures the proper development of the genitals in men. Its deficiency can cause an increase in weight, visible aging of the face, and weakening of muscles or bones (osteoporosis).

A low testosterone secretion can cause low functioning of some body organs (failing memory, fatigue), or changes such as the creation of clogged arteries, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, concentration of fat in the abdomen, atrophy of the skin, high blood pressure and increased levels of cholesterol. However, from all of these consequences, the most dangerous is myocardial infarction (MI).

To increase your testosterone level, it is recommended to use testosterone supplements, increase the amount of exercise in your routine, decrease use of alcohol specially beer, lower stress, limit meals and wear boxer-type underwear.

Once a period of three months has passed without results, you should consider about taking a Testosterone Replacement Therapy. This can be injections, pellets, pills, patches and gels. This treatment tends to be more expensive than female hormone treatment.

Testosterone injections are put into the muscle so that it is directly absorbed into the blood stream. These are supposed to be given every two or three days to maintain the proper levels in the blood. Some advantages of using this treatment are infrequent doses, it is cheap and it is felt on a physical level immediately.

But it also has its disadvantages such as scheduling of injections can be inconvenient, can be painful, and it can cause emotional and sexual highs and lows when the initial ?boost? is followed by the ?down?.

Another treatment is to place pellets of testosterone under the skin. These are crystals made of pure testosterone. The pellets can give you advantages such as long history of sale use, infrequent doses and a slow rise in testosterone level. Its disadvantages include surgical procedure, pain and discomfort.

The most useful and convenient is the pill. It must be taken two or three times a day, but this treatment provides inconsistent testosterone levels, food can interfere with absorption and multiple daily doses are required.

Patches can also be applied to various areas of the skin, which allow for the testosterone to be absorbed and get to the bloodstream. This method does not require injections or surgical procedures, it normalizes serum testosterone levels and is has convenient application sites. Nevertheless, they may be inconvenient to apply because it can cause skin irritation and discomfort and has a higher cost.

Finally, gels are the newest therapy that can be used once-a-day, normalizes testosterone levels in 24 hours and produces less skin irritation than patches.

If you suspect or are diagnosed with prostate cancer, male breast cancer, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes, heart disease or liver or kidney disease you should consult a doctor before take a Testosterone Replacement Therapy.

In any case, you should visit a doctor to have a reliable diagnosis and know about the best treatment for you.

Do no forget you are not the only man with this suffering. There are many in your situation but you can make the difference by paying a visit to a specialist.


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