In this article you will find more information about andropause and its effect on men’s life.
The first thing a man entering andropause generally notices is a subtle downward shift in strength and energy as hormone levels taper off. Muscle tone and stamina are the first to go, and he starts to gain weight and that “spare tyre.” He may also develop a voracious appetite and food cravings he never had before. As symptoms kick in at mid-life, hormone testing can identify hidden imbalances that complicate symptoms of andropause and contribute to rapid ageing.
The majority of men in the 2006 HIM Study did not recognise that the weight gain, sore muscles, lack of libido, insomnia, and burnout they were experiencing could have something to do with andropause and hormone imbalance — instead they put their symptoms down to “just getting old.”
One way to begin to answer the question of whether every modern man needs testosterone is to start with physiology and understand that the androgens (primarily testosterone and DHEA) in their natural state bestow the heavier bone and muscle mass, deeper voice, drive and virility we associate with the male of the species. And that when they start to decline around the age of 45, the average man will experience some of the following symptoms:
- Decreased strength, stamina and endurance
- Decreased muscle mass and sore muscles
- Weight gain in the hips, thighs, waist and/or breasts
- Increased body fat
- Poor recovery from exercise
- Burnout and fatigue
- Lack of mental clarity
- Decreased sex drive and/or competitive drive
- Prostate problems
The natural decline of hormone levels in ageing men also poses an increased cardiovascular risk — which is where the controversy over replacement therapy comes in: whether it can hurt or help healthy men, and those who already have heart disease. According to the FDA, the use of testosterone therapies increased from 1.3 million patients in 2009 to 2.3 million patients in 2013, a doubling of prescriptions in less than five years.
If the need is clearly established and monitored through hormone testing, supplementing testosterone can be beneficial.
Replacement Has Its Place
In a 2015 study of 1,472 generally healthy men between the ages of 52 and 63 with no history of heart disease, researchers found that those who received testosterone supplementation to achieve normal levels did not increase their risk of heart attack, stroke or death — but actually showed a reduction of risk compared to patients not on testosterone therapy. Even more good news came in a follow-up study in 2016 of 755 male patients between the ages of 58 and 78, all with severe coronary artery disease. Researchers found that the men who received testosterone therapy as part of their follow-up treatment fared much better than those who didn’t. In fact, the non-testosterone therapy patients were 80% more likely to suffer an adverse event.
To establish whether testosterone replacement is appropriate, accurate testing is essential. Our Male Saliva Hormone Profile I (LCMS) measures testosterone, DHEA-S, cortisol and other key androgens from a simple at-home saliva sample — giving you and your practitioner a clear baseline before any therapy begins.
It’s Always About Balance
Ageing is inevitable and dropping hormone levels go with the territory — but how rapid or steep the decline needs to be is not inevitable. Whether men age well or rapidly depends a great deal on their stress levels, diet, exercise, alcohol intake, weight gain and more. For example, the more overweight the man, the more oestrogen he will produce in his fat cells, creating a surplus in relation to waning testosterone and a raft of oestrogen-related symptoms like moodiness, depression, and female-pattern weight distribution in the hips, thighs and breast tissue.
Experts in the field of hormone testing and balance will tell you that where the need is clearly established and monitored through testing, supplementing with testosterone can be beneficial — particularly when used in tandem with a healthy lifestyle. Our Adrenal Function Saliva Test Kit (LCMS) measures DHEA-S and cortisol across the day — two hormones that are critical to andropause management, as high cortisol directly suppresses testosterone production.
What Men in Balance Do During Andropause
- Test their hormone levels to detect and correct imbalances linked to symptoms.
- Follow up with a natural hormone-friendly physician.
- Lose weight as needed. Fat cells contain aromatase, an enzyme that robs the male body of available testosterone by converting it into oestrogen.
- Stick with a programme! A low-glycaemic Mediterranean-style diet high in protein and fibre and low in fat and carbs can help rebalance hormones and assist weight loss.
- Eliminate testosterone robbers like caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes, and unnecessary stressors.
- Take up strength training or weight-bearing exercise to boost testosterone and DHEA levels naturally by building lean muscle mass.
- Counteract stress (the higher the stress levels, the lower the testosterone) with regular exercise — 45 minutes is optimal but even 10 minutes 3x a day adds up.
- Stretch and breathe deeply to release tension held in the muscles and lower stress hormones that deplete testosterone levels.
- Hit the sack earlier — less than 7 hours of sleep disrupts appetite hormones and increases cravings.
- Take time to do the things you enjoy! Stress reduction is the key to normalising cortisol and testosterone levels.
*Topical supplements rubbed into the skin (gels, creams) do not always show up in a serum test and can lead to possible over-supplementation. This is why so many physicians test hormone levels in saliva or dried blood spot sampling to track and adjust dosage as needed.
The Good Andropause
Hormone balance never boils down to just one hormone. Getting to the land of optimal health and ageing is about getting ALL key players — oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, thyroid — working together in sync. Just like a symphony orchestra, if one instrument is out of tune, so goes the melody… hormones are your internal symphony. For men who want a truly comprehensive view of their hormonal and neurochemical health in one panel, our Men All-In-One Test – Hormones, Neurotransmitters & Heavy Metals covers sex hormones, adrenal markers, neurotransmitters and more — with specialist interpretation included.
Original of this article was published on ZRT Laboratory Blog.