Testosterone is the sex hormone that helps boys become men. This hormone is key during puberty and the development of male physical features. Testosterone helps to maintain men's muscle strength and mass, facial and body hair, and a deeper voice. Testosterone levels can affect men's sex drive, erections, mood, muscle mass and bone density. Testosterone is also needed for men to produce sperm.

 

Some men have low levels of testosterone. This is called hypogonadism, or low-T.

A man's testosterone level normally decreases with age. About 4 out of 10 men over the age of 45 have low testosterone. It is seen in about 2 out of 10 men over 60, 3 out of 10 men over 70, and 3 out of 10 men over 80 years old.

 

Andropause is also known as the male menopause or MANopause, is the result of a gradual drop in testosterone which is an androgen, giving the condition its name. In many cases, FDA approved hormone replacement can be part of the solution. When men get into their early 30s, they begin losing testosterone at a rate of one to two percent a year. According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 4-5 million men have symptoms of low testosterone levels and only 5-10% of these men will seek treatment.

 

 

Andropause Symptoms

The symptoms of male menopause:

 

• Irritable Male Syndrome

• Weight gain

• Sleep apnea

• Memory loss

• Diminished libido

• Hair Loss

• Erectile dysfunction

• Hot Flashes

• Muscle loss

• Depression

• Fatigue

• Night Sweats in Men

• Gynecomastia (male breasts)