Men's Health
Andropause: The Male Menopause
As men age, their testosterone production decreases by about 2% a year from the age of 30 – causing a significant decline of this very necessary hormone as we age, over time.
Decreased testosterone levels paired with an increase in levels of Sex Binding Hormone Globulin (SHBG), which inhibits a substantial portion of remaining testosterone from working, causes andropause symptoms (i.e. erectile problems, hair loss, weight gain, low sexual drive, low mood, lack of energy) Male pattern hair loss, in particular, is caused by a hormone created from testosterone, dihydrotestosterone or DHT, which when bound to a particular receptor in male hair follicles, causes thinning of hair or hair loss.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone
Irritability
Depression
Weight gain
Muscle loss
Low libido
Erectile dysfunction
Hair loss
Hot flashes
Night sweats
Memory loss
Insomnia
Fatigue
Low energy
Gynecomastia (man boobs)
Andropause symptoms are typically mistaken for signs of aging and left untreated. However, adequate levels of testosterone are vital to a man’s health and well-being.
What are Bioidentical Hormones?
Bioidentical hormones are blueprints of the natural hormones in our bodies molecule by molecule, making them precise duplications of the male hormones that your body naturally produce. Bioidentical hormones like testosterone, estrogen and progesterone are easily metabolized, allowing your body to incorporate them without the major negative side effects often associated with synthetic hormones.
Why not Synthetic Hormones?
Molecules of synthetic hormones are foreign to our bodies and can cause various and severe side effects that are oftentimes worse than the original symptoms they were intended to treat. The chemistry of the male body is very intricate and synthetic hormones for men do not address this complexity.
They treat one hormone deficiency or excess without consideration of how it will affect the other hormones. Synthetic hormones provide a one-size-fits-all solution to varying individual hormone imbalances without considering the big picture or your individual needs.
How are Bioidentical Hormones made?
Bio-Identical male hormones are made from compounds found in plants like wild yam or soy beans. These plant-based hormones are processed to hold an identical structure to male hormones produced by your body.
Compounding pharmacies expertly formulate customized preparations designed to meet an individual’s very specific healthcare needs.
Testosterone
What does Testosterone do?
Testosterone serves several purposes in the male body including the growth and development of sexual characteristics. The testosterone hormone also deepens the voice during puberty, stimulates the growth of facial and body hair, increases sexual drive, and is responsible for sperm production. Furthermore, testosterone contributes to liver function, muscle mass and strength, the ability to produce erections and sexual stamina. Testosterone is the main male hormone that differentiates men from women.
Testosterone therapy can return the male body to producing normal testosterone levels.
Testosterone serves several purposes in the male body including the growth and development of sexual characteristics. The testosterone hormone also deepens the voice during puberty, stimulates the growth of facial and body hair, increases sexual drive, and is responsible for sperm production. Furthermore, testosterone contributes to liver function, muscle mass and strength, the ability to produce erections and sexual stamina. Testosterone is the main male hormone that differentiates men from women.
Testosterone therapy can return the male body to producing normal testosterone levels.
For the most part, bio-identical testosterone replacement therapy is safe when used at the prescribed dose and under supervision of your doctor. However, like any medication or therapy, there are some side effects from testosterone replacement therapy that may occur and that you should be aware of.
Possible side effects include:
Acne and/or oily skin
Mild fluid retention
Breast enlargement (gynecomastia)
Decreased testicular size
Decreased sperm count
Elevated red blood cell count
Testosterone replacement therapy has also been found to stimulate growth of the prostate. Therefore, men who have or have been previously diagnosed with prostate cancer should not undergo testosterone therapy without first consulting with their doctor.
Progesterone
Why progesterone for men?
When many of us think of progesterone, we think of it as being a hormone strictly for women. However, men need progesterone too. Progesterone helps to counteract the effects of estrogen in the male body. Not only is progesterone found in males, but men rely on the alleged “female hormone” to preserve their masculinity. In fact, progesterone is a precursor to testosterone – the male sex hormone. As men age and testosterone begins to decline, estrogen levels steadily rise. As estrogen levels increase, progesterone levels plummet.
Symptoms of low progesterone in men include:
Low libido
Hair loss
Weight gain
Fatigue
Depression
Gynecomastia (“man-boobs”)
Erectile dysfunction
Impotence
Bone loss
Muscle loss
In addition, men with low levels of progesterone have a higher risk of developing health conditions, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, prostatism and prostate cancer..
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a hormone produced primarily by the adrenal cortex, but is also secreted by the testes and the brain. DHEA serves as a precursor to androgen hormones – the hormones that regulate the development and preservation of male characteristics. Even more so than testosterone, men rely on DHEA to maintain their edge. Because DHEA is a precursor to androgen hormones, men depend on it to retain their masculinity.
The majority of the symptoms men are facing during andropause are attributed to low testosterone or “Low-T.” What most men don’t know is that the decline in testosterone is in fact linked to waning levels of DHEA. Typically, DHEA levels begin to taper off around the age of 30 and continue to gradually decline throughout a man’s life.
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a hormone produced primarily by the adrenal cortex, but is also secreted by the testes and the brain. DHEA serves as a precursor to androgen hormones – the hormones that regulate the development and preservation of male characteristics. Even more so than testosterone, men rely on DHEA to maintain their edge. Because DHEA is a precursor to androgen hormones, men depend on it to retain their masculinity.
The majority of the symptoms men are facing during andropause are attributed to low testosterone or “Low-T.” What most men don’t know is that the decline in testosterone is in fact linked to waning levels of DHEA. Typically, DHEA levels begin to taper off around the age of 30 and continue to gradually decline throughout a man’s life.
Low levels of DHEA can cause symptoms including:
Fatigue
Loss of strength and muscle mass
Depression
Aching joints
Decreased sex drive
Impaired immune function
On the other hand, adequate DHEA levels can help:
Increase testosterone levels
Restore muscle mass
Improve the body fat ratio
Improve memory
Boost the immune system
Promote flexibility
Raise energy levels
DHEA supplementation is a great way for men to regain vitality. As with any supplement, you should consult your doctor before taking DHEA. For men, healthy levels of DHEA will help prevent prostate cancer; however, men who have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer should not take DHEA as it may increase the risk of prostate tumors, unless otherwise advised by their doctor.