|
|
| Andropause,
No Myth |
 |
|
reprinted from Harvard Medical School Newsletter
November 30, 2001
Yes, there may well be such a thing as male Andropause, but the
malaise goes far beyond the so-called "midlife crisis" of popular
culture. More specifically, the male version of Andropause is the
gradual decline in the chief male sex hormone, testosterone, which
in the average man begins as early as the third decade of life. Most
men remain unaware of the decline, but researchers now believe that
it may be associated with common age-related changes like high
cholesterol, muscle weakness, weight gain, and heart problems
Q: Do men undergo something like Andropause as they age?
A: The term "male Andropause" is really something of a misnomer.
What the average healthy man will experience as he ages is not a
noticeable change, like female Andropause, but a gradual decline in
the principal male sex hormone, testosterone. The decrease can begin
in the late 30s, and by the 70s, blood levels may have dropped by
one-third to one-half of the levels observed in young men.
We believe that this decline is linked to common age-related changes
in healthy men, such as decreases in muscle tissue and bone mineral
density, increases in abdominal body fat, a rise in cholesterol, and
deteriorating heart function, as well as psychological and sexual
changes. We know that such hormonal associations with aging exist
for women, and we can treat them with replacement therapy. We also
know that young men with severe testosterone deficiency suffer from
muscle weakness, osteoporosis and psychosexual dysfunction, and that
these problems lessen or disappear when such men are given a
testosterone supplement.
Q: What research is currently being done in this area?
A: Three large NIH-funded human trials have recently been completed.
The tabulated data will likely confirm and extend our beliefs about
the role of testosterone decline and supplementation in healthy
aging men. We expect some important findings will be published next
year that will allow us to look at the aging process differently,
and help us take a kinder, gentler approach to improving older men's
quality of life.
Q: Can the decline be treated with hormone replacement, as with
postmenopausal women?
A: Smaller studies have already suggested that very gradually
replacing testosterone in selected healthy men can actually reverse
some of the age-related problems of muscle weakness, osteoporosis,
high cholesterol and others. For example, It may be beneficial for
some men to begin receiving supplemental therapy while still in
their 30s.
Q: Is there a chance that testosterone supplements could cause
prostate disease?
A: Studies suggest that although testosterone is not a cause of new
prostate cancer, it can contribute to the growth of existing
prostate cancer. For their safety, men with this cancer were
excluded from all the studies and we carefully and continually
screened other participants for any sign of the disease. However,
it's our hypothesis that slow, gentle supplementation to help men
return to their previous blood levels of testosterone is safe for
men who are cancer free at the inception of testosterone therapy.
Q: Are there other potential complications of testosterone
supplementation?
A: We know that a man's cholesterol profile can worsen with too much
testosterone. However, based on our investigations of men with
deficiencies, we believe that slow, gentle supplementation can
actually improve their condition, lowering the bad cholesterol and
boosting the good.
Q: Can elderly men with other age-related illnesses benefit, or is
the therapy limited to the healthy?
A: Elderly men who suffer from co-morbid conditions such as
malnutrition, heart disease and diabetes mellitus also appear to
have a more severe decline in testosterone than do healthy men. We
believe they can gain particular benefits from supplementation, and
researchers are starting to look at possible usefulness in diverse
frail elderly populations. We hope that the therapy can prolong
their independence and improve their quality of life.
I hope you will find our abstract from the InteliHealth Newsletter
interesting and informative. Testosterone therapy should be
considered in the larger concept of endocrine balance, the goal
being the optimal range for a 30 y/o. If testosterone is deficient
there is a high probability that other hormone levels may also be
deficient.
Information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is
not intended as medical advice.
Andropause Home | Andropause
Symptoms | Male Hot Flashes | Male Night Sweats | Andropause
Doctors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
