Does Low Androgen Impact Reproductive Health? Understanding Male Menopause
by John Dugan OwnerAlthough
many people have negative feelings toward aging, getting old is still better
than the alternative (as has been said many times). In recent times, there has
been a lot of talk about male menopause (also sometimes called andropause), a
change in men which is purported to be similar to the “change of life” that
women experience. Since male menopause would definitely be a male organ health
concern, it’s good to spend a little time looking at andropause and
understanding just what it is and what is involved.
Controversy
First,
it’s important to know that there is some debate as to whether there really is
such a thing as male menopause. In essence, this is more a debate concerning
whether the use of the term male menopause is appropriate. (Other terms used to
describe male menopause include ADAM (androgen decline in the aging male), late
onset hypogonadism or androgen deficiency). All these terms describe a condition
in which there is a gradual but significant decrease in androgen levels in men
as they age. It is different from menopause in women, which is a more complex
chemical shift with more resulting changes.
However,
there are also many doctors who believe the condition is not really as
prevalent as many articles in recent years suggest. The British National Health
Service, for example, calls it “rare.”
What
is it?
So,
with all the controversy, what exactly are we talking about here? Essentially,
as stated above, this is all about men losing androgen as they age – and what
that means for them.
Some
loss of androgen is typically associated with aging. Around age 30, men begin
to see a decrease in androgen of about 1% per year. This drop in androgen
is so gradual that most men don’t really see effects for many years – usually
not until they get to be around 60 years of age. About 20% of men in their 60s
have what would be considered low androgen; when you move to men in their 70s,
the figure is thought to be about 30%. But there are many men who maintain
“normal” androgen levels into their 80s and beyond.
Complicating
matters is the fact that there are some men who, when their androgen levels are
measured, would be considered “low androgen” – but they don’t present with any
of the symptoms associated with low androgen (and therefore with male
menopause).
Symptoms
What
are those symptoms? They include:
-
Lower drive
-
Fewer spontaneous arousals
-
Male dysfunction
-
Infertility
-
Fatigue and sleep problems
-
Muscle loss and loss of height/increased body fat
-
Night sweats
-
Loss of body hair
-
Shrunken member
-
Irritability
-
Depression
Not
everyone with low androgen exhibits all of these symptoms (and as mentioned,
some men exhibit none of them).
Older
men who experience some of these symptoms should discuss them with their
doctors to see what kind of treatment might be desirable. Often lifestyle
changes and mental health assistance can be very valuable. In some instances,
androgen replacement therapy may be recommended; however, there are risks
associated with this option, and they should be thoroughly discussed and
carefully weighed in making a decision.
Taking
steps to maintain general health (a sensible diet, appropriate exercise, etc.)
can help a man offset some of the effects of aging. It’s also important to
regularly use a superior male organ
health creme (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil,
which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) to help keep that
organ in good working order as it ages. Look especially for a crème that
contains two amino acids, L-arginine and L carnitine. The former is important
because it helps in the process whereby male organ blood vessels are able to
remain open and receptive to flow increases. The latter is neuroprotective, so
that if a manhood has suffered loss of sensation from rough use or overuse, it
can help restore sensitivity.
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Created on Jul 6th 2018 17:59. Viewed 377 times.