Is Male Menopause A Myth?

Every healthy male will experience a decrease in the production of testosterone, the "male" hormone, as he ages. This decline in testosterone is gradual, spanning ten to fifteen years on average. While the gradual decrease of testosterone does not display the profound effects that a woman's menopause does, the end results are similar. They are lethargy (feeling that you have no energy), loss of muscle mass and strength, increased fat and loss of libido (sexual drive). Until recently, this male phenomenon has been virtually ignored. The onset of symptoms is gradual and can be vague, and therefore can be easily missed.

WHAT IS ANDROPAUSE?

* Both men and women have hormonal control occurring in the brain, and more specifically in the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus detects that levels of the hormone testosterone are inadequate. It sends a message to the pituitary gland via gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).
* The pituitary receives the message of low testosterone from GnRH and releases luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) at hourly intervals. The FSH stimulates the Leydig cells in the testes (testicles) to produce more testosterone.
* Once levels of testosterone are adequate, the hypothalamus will stop sending GnRH to the pituitary. The process is called a feedback system.

WHEN DOES ANDROPAUSE OCCUR?

When levels of testosterone fall, the condition is known as hypogonadism.
(hypo = low), (gonad = testis or ovary).

There Are Two Types Of Hypogonadism:
Primary And Secondary

• Primary hypogonadism - when the Leydig cells in the testes have lost the capacity to secrete testosterone at normal, youthful levels.
  
• Secondary hypogonadism - when the messages from the brain to the pituitary gland are not strong enough or frequent enough to stimulate the Leydig cells to secrete testosterone.

If testosterone levels are normal, and a man is experiencing signs of andropause, the hormonal culprit is usually estrogen, the female hormone. Both men and women must have a specific ratio of testosterone to estrogen. Young men may have a ratio of testosterone to estrogen of 50:1.

The ratio drops to 20:1 or even as low as 8:1 with normal aging. When estrogen levels in a man increase, the effects of testosterone are negated. While estrogens in women protect them from heart disease and osteoporosis, the effects are the opposite for men. Too much estrogen will actually increase the risk of heart attacks in men.

How Does Estrogen Occur In A Man's Body?

Within the body, there is an enzyme called aromatase. It converts certain amounts of testosterone into estradiol (an estrogen). With aging, a man's body will produce larger amounts of aromatase. Larger amounts of aromatase mean more conversion of testosterone to estradiol. This will change the ratio of testosterone to estrogen.
A man may have a normal testosterone level, but with an increased estrogen level, the effects of the testosterone are negated. The transformation is not difficult, as the chemical makeup of testosterone and estrogen is very similar.

How Do Levels Of Estrogen Become Elevated?

• Obesity
  Studies indicate that obesity is directly related to over-estrogenization in both sexes. All fat cells contain aromatase, so an increase in fat cell population will cause an increase in the conversion of testosterone into estrogen. This will alter the testosterone:estrogen ratios. Obesity is also known to lower testosterone levels at all ages. This may be an excellent reason to trim down and tone up!
  
  
• Zinc Deficiency
  Zinc inhibits the levels of aromatase in the body. If zinc levels are inadequate, the levels of aromatase rise. Zinc is also necessary for normal pituitary functions. Without zinc, the pituitary gland cannot release the luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormones that stimulate the testes to produce testosterone. An interesting note; while zinc is necessary for testosterone production, testosterone is necessary to maintain levels of zinc in body tissues.
  
  
• Liver Function
  One of the functions of the liver, is to aid in the elimination of chemicals, hormones, drugs and metabolic waste products from the body. There are a number of factors that will prevent or decrease this from happening. Use of alcohol will diminish liver function. Normal aging will also lessen liver function.
  
  
• Alcohol
  As previously stated, alcohol intake will assist with diminished liver function, and the elimination of excess hormones, drugs and metabolic wastes. Alcohol consumption causes dramatic rises in estrogen levels in the body. Women will have a dramatic rise in their estrogen levels after just one drink. Men will not have a dramatic rise, but levels of estrogen will increase. Heavy drinkers will have high estrogen levels, along with other related symptoms, such as "spider veins", especially on the nose and cheeks, gynecomastia (development of breasts) and testicular atrophy (degeneration or shrinking). Alcohol decreases zinc levels in the body.
  
  
• Prescription Drugs
  The side effects of some prescription drugs will have a negative effect on the body, and increase the effects of andropause. One example is diuretics (water pills such as Lasix). While necessary to treat conditions such as high blood pressure, the action of the diuretic will diminish levels of zinc in the body. To counteract the effects of the diuretic, a zinc supplement should be taken.

Testosterone In Your Body

Testosterone can be either free or bound within the body. Bound testosterone is not available for use, as it is bound to other substances throughout the body. Most of a man's testosterone is bound. The remaining testosterone is called free or bioavailable testosterone.

Normal levels of testosterone are between 350 - 1000 ng/dl (nanograms per deciliter). Of this, 97 - 98 percent is bound. Most of the binding occurs to a sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). The amounts of SHBG within the blood increase with age. The SHBG traps much of the circulating bioavailable testosterone, making it unavailable to exert its effects on the body. It is the bioavailable testosterone that promotes strength in the muscles and maintains or increases muscle mass, libido and sexual performance. It also improves quality of sleep, increases mental and physical energy, and also promotes improvements in mood and the sense of well-being.

Testosterone also plays a role in synthesizing proteins. It affects many metabolic activities, such as the production of blood cells in the bone marrow, formation of bone, lipid (fat) and carbohydrate metabolism and growth of the prostate gland.

SYMPTOMS

• Depression
  Androgen deficiency can affect cognitive functions, resulting in lack of mental energy, decreased sense of well-being and depression.
• Fatigue
  Androgen deficiency causes loss of muscle mass, tone and bone density. These losses can leave an andropausal man with feelings of fatigue.
• Irritability
  Androgen deficiency can also heighten feelings of irritability that can lead to aggression, hostility, and anger.
• Reduced Libido
  Androgen deficiency reduces libido (the desire for sex). For most men, sexual changes and loss of libido occur gradually.
• Aches & Pains
  Because of muscle mass depletion, men will often experience a multitude of generalized aches and pains throughout their bodies.
• Sweating & Flushing
  As with women, the fluctuating levels of hormones can cause periods of diffuse sweating and hot flashes.
• Decreased Sexual Performance Or Erectile Dysfunction
  The inability to obtain and maintain an erection is known as impotence. Erectile dysfunctions also include prolonged length of time in achieving an erection, diminished force and volume of ejaculation, diminished rigidity of the erection and diminished pleasure. Most men who reach midlife will experience one or all of these to varying degrees. Most young men do not experience impotence. Sexual change can be the precursor or warning of other disease processes, such as coronary artery disease and diabetes.

SHORT-TERM EFFECTS

• Decreased strength
• Decreased endurance
• Dermatological changes
• Decreased libido
• Decreased sexual performance
• Dysphoria (restlessness)
• Fatigue
• Loss of self-esteem
• Increased anxiety

Common Changes That Are Manifested In Andropause Include: