What is Male Menopause?
Andropause (male menopause) is real, although more subtle than female menopause. During male menopause, there is a gradual decline in androgens, male sex hormones, usually starting in the forties. Along with the decline in androgens is a rise in Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), proteins that bind to and limit the effectiveness of testosterone. The loss of testosterone can contribute to the familiar “pot belly” and loss of muscle tone in middle aged men. The other symptoms of male menopause include a waning interest in sex, including decreased sexual satisfaction and difficulty with having and maintaining erections. Increased fatigue, depression, irritability, aches, pains, stiffness and decreased mental acuity are symptoms, as well.
What can you do about it?
As men age, hormonal changes occur that perceptibly alter physical, sexual,and cognitive functions. Until recently, these changes were just accepted as part of “growing old.” A consistent finding in the scientific literature is that testosterone supplementation therapy produces a feeling of well-being. Some studies show that low testosterone correlates with symptoms of depression and other psychological disorders. A common side effect of prescription anti-depressant drugs (SSRI’s like Prozac and Zoloft) is a reduction in libido. Many people suffering with depression either accept this drug-induced reduction in quality of their lives, or they discontinue the anti-depressant drugs so they can at least have a somewhat normal sex life.
Testosterone supplementation, the foundation of male HRT, often enhances libido, which is the opposite effect of most prescription anti-depressants. At least one study showed that patients with major depression, given testosterone, experienced improvement that was equal to that achieved with standard anti-depressant drugs. Most patients on supplemental testosterone experience increased sense of well-being, improved libido, more energy, better focus and concentration, increased lean muscle mass and decrease in body fat in response to workout program.
The Center for Modern Aging’s Male Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) programs are specifically customized to your body. We use the most recent evidenced based science to construct effective programs for you, offering safe, natural, and medically-based bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) for men.