How Doctors Can Diagnose and Treat Andropause and Other Low Testosterone Conditions
Andropause… it’s caused by a low testosterone level in the male body. As men get older, their testosterone levels will naturally drop. By the time they reach the age of 55, they experience the phenomenon known as andropause – a similarity to the commonly known female menopause.
The problem with andropause is that there are no symptoms that demonstrate a man is going through it. The only surefire to know is in the drop in hormone levels – testosterone for men and estrogen for women.
How New Is Andropause?
It was the 1940s when andropause was first mentioned in the medical literature, which means it’s not all that new. The only new part of it all is the diagnosis of the condition by age management physicians, hormone therapists and endocrinologists. It wasn’t until recently that testosterone tests were created, which means andropause was underdiagnosed and not treated properly.
With men living a lot longer, there is more interest in andropause, which will help doctors to learn more about the condition. If a man suspects he has low testosterone, he should get a hormone test to verify his suspicions.
Beginning at the age of 30, testosterone levels decrease 10 percent every 10 years. While this is happening, the level of Sex Binding Hormone Globulin is rising, which traps testosterone so that it becomes unavailable for the tissues to use. What remains of the testosterone does the work the body needs it to.
It’s important to understand that all men will see a drop in their testosterone levels, but some men see a significant drop in their levels than other men. And, a simple blood test can determine how much free and total testosterone a man has.
A Search of Low Testosterone-Related Conditions
If you’ve been looking for information about the male hormone including but not limited to:
- What is male hormone replacement therapy?
- How low is too low for testosterone?
- What are the symptoms of low testosterone?
- What is erectile dysfunction?
- Understanding male menopause
If you have any symptoms of hormonal deficiency such as impotence or hormonal imbalance, there are an array of treatment options you can choose from. You just need to reach out to a professional hormonal therapist. Remember, andropause will affect millions of men all around the world – know you are not alone.
What Happens When The Body Has A Deficiency In Testosterone
A man who has a testosterone deficiency may experience bodily changes that can occur suddenly or gradually. They may experience mood and attitude changes, a sudden loss of energy levels, develop stubborn stomach fat, have a low sex drive and major fatigue. Due to the loss, they may suddenly become angry, frustrated or depressed.
A low testosterone level is serious for men, as it can impact their lives in a multitude of ways. Studies have shown that low testosterone levels can lead to weak bones, memory loss and heart disease.
These problems often occur at a time when men start to questions their worth and their direction in life – something commonly known as the mid-life crisis. It’s hard for men to consider that hormonal changes could explain their feelings. In fact, most men are oblivious to the fact that they can suffer a hormonal imbalance too – that a testosterone deficiency could be the problem behind their symptoms.
Testosterone therapy is designed to give the body back its testosterone – not just for men but women too. It helps to increase their sex drive, to build muscles and drop the weight. If used in conjunction with an HGH therapy (human growth hormone) lifestyle change such as regular exercise and healthy diet, the benefits are enormous.
Who Should You See For Your Low Testosterone Problem
When you have low testosterone levels, a regular physician may or may not attribute your symptoms to the condition. They may attribute symptoms like stress, weight gain, change in attitude and others as a part of getting older. They may even suggest that you “get over it.”
That’s just not going to cut it!
Instead, you need to talk to qualified individuals about your problems such as age management physicians, endocrinologists, anti-aging doctors and urologists. These types of doctors have experience with the problems associated with low testosterone. They will run tests and make a diagnosis of what is causing your low-T problems. They’ll evaluate and treat the condition, coming up with a treatment plan that’s tailored to your problem.
Depending on the diagnosis, they may prescribe medications that will help with your low-T issues such as hypogonadism or andropause condition. One thing they may suggest is undergoing HGH therapy. If you opt for this treatment, your doctor will monitor the treatment and determine if it’s working or not.
According to Endocrine Society guidelines, a measurement of early morning total testosterone may be taken to confirm the diagnostic test. For men who are borderline low, they may do another morning total testosterone to get a more definitive answer. Doctors often suggest that the test be taken while fasting for more accurate results.
If the test reveals that the total testosterone level is low or Sex Hormone Binding Globulin is to blame, they’ll request a test for free testosterone. While men can have a normal total testosterone, they can still experience low free testosterone that causes the andropause symptoms.
What is SHBG? It’s the protein that affixes to free androgen in the bloodstream that causes even lower testosterone levels in the body. The Endocrine Society suggests that men with androgen deficiency symptoms be prescribed testosterone therapy, as it would alleviate them. Again, such symptoms include low sex drive, loss of muscle mass, increase in body fat, etc.
Blood Test Can Reveal Low Testosterone Levels
The symptoms of andropause are extremely vague and can differ for each person. Men have a hard time admitting that they’re having problems, and doctors don’t consider that low testosterone levels may be a cause of their problems. A man who puts on a lot of weight suddenly or feels tired all day long, even if they’ve not done anything or they are angry for no reason could have a low testosterone level.
However, the real problem is the well-meaning physicians who don’t have a lot of experience with low testosterone symptoms. Instead, they attribute the problem to other problems such as stress, vitamin deficiency, thyroid, etc.
They never think that testosterone replacement therapy could bring back a man is a sense of self. However, the right testosterone therapy treatment can ease andropause and low testosterone symptoms.
Researchers have come up with new blood testing methods to learn if a man’s testosterone levels are low, and there’s been brewing interest in male aging with a focus on hypogonadism and andropause. Efforts are being taken to share this breaking information with doctors all around the world.
When Do Men Experience A Drop In Their Hormones
The male transition of “menopause” known as andropause occurs gradually and over the course of several decades. Alcohol, psychological stress, surgery, obesity and injuries can all lead to andropause. While all men experience the drop in testosterone levels, there’s no way to know who will or will not see andropause symptoms that will lead to seeking help from a hormone specialist.
On top of that, there’s no way to know or predict at the age of when these symptoms will occur, as some men see a drop in their 30s while others don’t experience until their 50s and 60s.
Even the symptoms men experience with andropause can differ.
How HGH Therapy Can Help With Sex Drive
Men who suffer from low testosterone will experience male sexual dysfunction symptoms such as low desire to have sex, weaker and fewer erections, no erections or soft erections. It can also lead to hypogonadism, which happens when the sex glands (testes) don’t produce any androgen hormones.
However, the condition can be treated by way of HGH therapy (human growth hormone, low testosterone therapy, HRT and male enhancement therapy. Doctors may suggest men go through GH injections to complement the androgen replacement. Besides affecting the male sex drive, the HGH therapy can help improve a vast array of health and physical problems such as bone strength, hair and skin health and muscle mass.
What Are The Other Testosterone Replacement Therapy Treatments?
If you suffer from hypogonadism, low testosterone or andropause, you need to talk to your doctor. While the therapy may include weekly or monthly injections, you may also consider trying gels, creams and patches to boost your hormone levels. These testosterone improving treatments can increase your sense of self, better your overall performance and bring back your sex drive and stamina.
There are also medications you can take such as ED therapy drugs – Trimix, Caverject and Bi-Mix that will help balance out the male hormones and improve sexual health.
Your doctor may also prescribe a treatment of both testosterone pills and HCG to improve your testosterone levels. It’s also not uncommon for HGH to be prescribed along with androgen treatments to improve the levels of testosterone.
Are you experiencing any of the signs and symptoms of andropause or if you suspect your testosterone level is low, get in touch with the Testosterone Treatment Center or another testosterone therapy specialist to get tested and find the right hormone therapy treatment for you – be it injections, creams or supplements.
