Andropause: do you know that it exists?

We all knew about menopause and what it did to women but I had never heard of andropause! As a result, I thought that it was high time that I learned what this disease meant and whether it was similar to menopause. This is what I found out-

What it means
Just as in menopause where the estrogen levels drop, men too seem to experience a drop in androgen or testosterone formation as they age. This natural aging process begins early in the 30s and then progresses all through life resulting in a gradual decrease in the amount of male hormones present in the male body. After the age of 60, most men are hypogondal resulting in a decrease in the amount of testosterone formation that results in a decreased sex drive, poor bone density, visual problems, health problems, decreased body bulk and hair.

How to check for it?
Men are advised to check their testosterone and DHEA levels after the age of 40 to find out whether they are in andropause. The ideal time to test is between 8 am and 9 am to get the optimum levels of testosterone in the body.

What can you do to treat it?
The goal of treatment is to increase the amount of androgens in the body while protecting the prostate gland from cancer formation. Popular treatments include the use of-
•    Eurycoma longifolia jack extract that increases testosterone secretion in men.
•    Stinging nettle root extract that contains compounds that increase the absorption of testosterone.
•    Testosterone replacement therapy is also common where men are given testosterone to improve mood, increase bone density, improved body structure, muscle strength and better visual-spatial integration and better health overall.

Although the therapy and treatment is well accepted, men who are already on a whole range of medications will not be able to use testosterone replacement therapy. Men who have already had colon cancer and prostate cancer too are not advised to start with testosterone therapy.