Andropause – or the “male menopause”
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Age-related hormonal changes proceed differently in men and women. While in women, usually between the ages of 45 and 55, there is a rapid decrease in hormone production in the ovaries with the onset of the menopause, in men the hormonal change occurs gradually and over a longer period of time.
Andropause – Myth or Reality?
The term andropause or “male menopause” is used to describe the age-related decline in testosterone levels in men. In men, the production of testosterone decreases slowly over many yearsand therefore cannot be determined as clearly as menopause in women.
From the age of 25, there may be a reduction in testosterone levels of approximately 1%-2% per year. While this does not cause any symptoms at the beginning, they may increasingly occur with increasing age. Symptoms of testosterone deficiency need not only be physical, but can also be psychological. About 25% of all men over fifty have serum testosterone levels well below the threshold considered normal for men between 30 and 40.
Typical symptoms of age-related decline in testosterone levels include:
- reduced sexual desire and activity
- less frequent erections or sexual dysfunction
- male breast growth
- Muscle loss
- Tiredness
- reduced motivation
- Exhaustion and loss of energy
- Mood swings
- depressive thoughts
- lower bone mass
- Little or loss of body hair
Reasons and diagnosis
In addition to age, other factors contribute to low testosterone levels. In addition to hereditary factors, these include obesity, diet, stress, depression, chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, smoking and alcohol consumption.
Older men often exhibit a variety of vague nonspecific symptoms that may be associated with testosterone deficiency. Therefore,a questionnaire called AMS (Aging Male Symptoms) is often used to determine the same before blood samples. This identifies patients in whom androgen deficiency seems at least likely. In eligible individuals, testosterone deficiency should then be confirmed by laboratory measurements. By determining total testosterone and free testosterone, the amount of bioavailable (effectively usable by the body) testosterone can then be determined. In fact, the amount of total testosterone in the body decreases only slightly, but since it is increasingly bound to proteins, the body can no longer use it. This is a natural aging process.
The risks of TRT (testosterone replacement therapy).
While testosterone replacement therapy is an option for some men with dramatically low levels, it also comes with significant risks. It can lead to prostate and breast cancer, increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and cause blood clots in the veins.
Our dietary supplement Andropeak® does not add artificial testosterone to the body, but increases the amount of bioavailable testosterone through the phytohormones in the fenugreek seed, by releasing what is already in the body from its protein binding. This allows men to maintain testosterone levels as they did in their younger years and counteract the symptoms of andropause.
Sources:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/male-menopause/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/mens-health/in-depth/male-menopause/art-20048056
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4921612/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4046605/