Men suffer frequently in silence. Andropause is not a topic often written about in magazines or newspapers. Men frequently experience decline in testosterone levels that correlate with the hormonal changes that women experience with menopause. However, men typically have a slower and more subtle hormonal decline, and develop symptoms over a period of time. When hormones are replaced and restored back to physiologic levels, considered normal for younger males, men may experience a dramatic reversal of many of these changes. In clinical trials, testosterone replacement therapy has produced improvement in psychological well-being and mood, improvement in erectile dysfunction and libido, increased muscle mass, strength, and stature, and preservation of bone mass.

Testosterone therapy may not only treat hypogonadism, but may also have tremendous potential to slow or halt the progression from metabolic syndrome to overt diabetes, or cardiovascular disease via beneficial effects on insulin regulation, lipid profile and blood pressure. Bio-identical testosterone must not be confused with synthetic derivatives or “anabolic steroids”, which when used by athletes and body builders have caused disastrous effects. Hormone balancing for men may also include DHEA, DHT, chrysin, zinc, selenium and other supplements.

Signs and symptoms of andropause may include:

• increased anxiety, irritability, memory or concentration problems,
• reduced sex drive or libido, erection or potency problems, decreased desire and sexual fantasies, longer recovery time between orgasms, decreased intensity of orgasms,
• loss of fitness-withering muscles,
• increase in fat tissue,
• loss of energy, decreased workout effectiveness,
• loss of managerial skills, loss of self confidence,
• reduced cognitive function,
• fatigue, depression, loss of ambition, edginess,
• generalized weakness,
• reduced sleep,
• osteoporosis,
• heart disease ( increased rate of heart attacks, poor circulation),
• slow wound healing,
• prostate problems,
• impaired immune cell formation (ill at ease),
• anemia,
• joint stiffness and muscle pain,
• increased aging of the heart and brain,
• decreased memory and intelligence,
• increased dementia and Alzheimer’s disease,
• less muscle, more fat,
• tiredness,
• depression, mood changes,
• excitability,
• fear,
• unnecessary worry,
• futility,
• associability,
• crying,
• thoughts of self destruction,
• self accusation,
• psychosis,
• attempted suicide,
• osteoporosis.