Functional Endocrinology: Andropause

Do you feel:

• A decreased libido?
• Difficulty urinating or dribbling
• Spells of mental fatigue?
• Decreased fullness of erection?
• Inability to concentrate?

If you are feeling or experiencing any of these situations, then you might be experiencing male menopause or andropause.

When men and women are heading to their 50s, their bodies start to change. For women, they start to develop hot flashes, and their hormones start to change as well. Since it is normal for hormones to change naturally when a person is aging, it affects women more than men. Studies have shown that sex hormones in males occur gradually as they age. There is a term called “male menopause,” and it is defined when males have a decreased level of testosterone that is related to aging. Many healthcare professionals have another name for “male menopause,” and that is andropause.

Andropause

Andropause and menopause are entirely different since menopause causes a woman’s ovulation and hormones to plummet for a short period. With andropause, it causes a male’s testosterone production and their other hormones to decline for many years. Since testosterone levels in males are vastly different, older men tend to have lower levels than younger men, and testosterone levels can gradually decline throughout adult life.

Studies found that when a person ages, their aging process can affect the body’s systems, including the endocrine system. When a person is aging, their adrenal glands will go through morphological changes, and those changes can alter their cortex endocrine functions. Another study showed that since andropause is age-related, there is a partial insufficiency in the adrenal cortex in the endocrine system, and there are low levels of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) and DHEA sulfate that can affect the cortisol levels.

DHEA and DHEA Sulfate

With DHEA and DHEA sulfate, research has found that these two are steroids that are produced abundantly by the adrenal glands in the endocrine system.  With these two components, they provide beneficial properties and effects that have anti-aging properties to stimulate the immune system and the endocrine system. When males are going through the changes as they get older, their hormones will naturally decrease in their bodies.

Since andropause is age-related and has partial insufficiency on the adrenal cortex and it is characterized by low blood levels of DHEA and DHEA sulfate when it is under the presence of cortisol levels in the body. With andropause and its characteristics, it shows how males have low DHEA levels, and it can cause them to have a higher risk of erectile dysfunction in their bodies. It is essential to know that the endocrine system initiates the aging process.

Andropause Factors

Some studies show how there are changes in the endocrine pathways and are being accompanied by healthy aging. The changes can be from growth hormones to sex hormones in the male’s bodies. The results show a clinical significance of these changes and have the results morphologically and functionally. Surprisingly there have been many age-associated diseases like epithelial skin cancer and neurodegenerative diseases that can attack the body due to the lack of hormones that are being produced. Hence hormone replacement therapies are conducted for older individuals.

When it comes to andropause and low testosterone in males, there are recognizable signs and symptoms that healthcare professionals and male individuals should look for. They can be:

• Sexual function: Low testosterone level can reduce sexual desire, causes erectile dysfunction and infertility, to name a few. Even male’s testes might be smaller as well.
• Sleep patterns: Sleep disturbances like insomnia or feeling more tired is due to low testosterone in the body.
• Physical changes: For males who have low testosterone, various physical changes can happen to their bodies. They can either have increased body fat, reduced muscle bulk, and decrease bone density. Sometimes the male body can develop gynecomastia (swollen breast) and body hair loss.
• Emotional changes: With low testosterone levels, they can make males have a decrease in motivation or self-confidence.

It is essential to know that when males have low testosterone, they can go for testosterone therapy to help dampen the signs and symptoms that they might experience.

Conclusion

Andropause is when males have low testosterone levels in their bodies. Naturally, hormone levels can decrease when males get older, and it is essential to know that there is testosterone therapy for males who have low levels of this hormone. It is ok to be on a healthy lifestyle and eating natural foods that can help boost up hormone levels in the body to make sure that it is functioning correctly. Some products are here to help the endocrine system and support the metabolic system as well. They even help the adrenal glands and support the gastrointestinal system to make sure the body is functioning correctly for a healthy new year.

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References:

Makrantonaki, Evgenia, et al. “Skin and Brain Age Together: The Role of Hormones in the Ageing Process.” Experimental Gerontology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20719245.

Nawata, Hajime, et al. “Adrenopause.” Hormone Research, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2004, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15539809.

Papierska, Lucyna. “Adrenopause – Does It Really Exist?” Przeglad Menopauzalny = Menopause Review, Termedia Publishing House, June 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5509973/.

Römmler, Alexander. “Adrenopause and Dehydroepiandrosterone: Pharmacological Therapy versus Replacement Therapy.” Gynakologisch-Geburtshilfliche Rundschau, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Apr. 2003, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12649580.

Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Understanding Aging and Testosterone.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 18 May 2017, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/mens-health/in-depth/male-menopause/art-20048056.

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