What Men Need to Know About Andropause
Hormone imbalances aren’t exclusive to women. Men also undergo a decline in hormone levels as they age.
Age-related hormone changes in men is a condition known as andropause. The so-called “male menopause” involves a decline in testosterone production in men aged 50 and older.
Testosterone is a hormone produced in the testicles. While we usually associate it with sex drive, it also plays a fundamental part in maintaining mental and physical energy, preserving muscle mass, and regulating the fight-or-flight response.
How to Know if You Have Low Testosterone Levels
Nearly 40% of men aged 45 and over in the United States have low testosterone levels; however, most could not identify or associate their symptoms with andropause. Instead, most men attribute their physical and mental changes to “just getting old.”
Because hormone levels in men decrease more slowly than women’s, there isn’t a well-defined period comparable to menopause. Instead, symptoms progressively worsen with age.
Given that a decline in male hormone levels can result in mental, emotional, physical, and sexual problems, it’s crucial to recognize the signs of hormone imbalance.
Common symptoms of andropause include:
- Low energy
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty sleeping
- Depression or feelings of sadness for no apparent reason
- Decreased motivation
- Reduced self-confidence
- Reduced muscle mass
- Increase in body fat
- Decreased physical strength
- Decreased bone density
- Erectile dysfunction
- Reduced libido
- Infertility
Furthermore, the natural age-related decline of male hormone levels can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease
BioTE® Hormone Replacement Therapy Is the Answer to Treating Andropause
Hormone replacement therapy is a safe and effective way to help relieve the symptoms associated with low testosterone levels and improve the physical wellness of aging men.
Our BioTE® bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) uses small, custom-compounded pellets that release the exact amount of hormones needed by the body to perform at its best.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help restore hormone levels to a balanced state and stop the symptoms of aging. Most importantly, numerous studies confirm its effectiveness and low risk of adverse effects.
A 2015 study involving generally healthy men ages 52 to 63 with no history of heart disease found that participants who received testosterone supplementation had a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, and death than participants who did not receive hormone replacement therapy.
In another study from 2016 involving male participants aged 58 to 78 who had severe coronary artery disease, investigators found that the men who did not receive hormone replacement therapy were 80% more likely to suffer an event than those who did receive the hormone therapy.
Aging is a natural process from which we cannot escape, and declining hormone levels are part of the aging process. However, the rate at which we age and our hormones decline is something we can control. If you are a man 45 or older and experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, schedule an appointment with one of our medical professionals to determine if BioTE® is right for you.
