Is There Really Such a Thing as Male Menopause?
When you hear the term “hormone replacement therapy,” most people will think of women and the way hormone replacement is used to treat the symptoms of menopause. However, men also lose critical hormones as they age.
In fact, men go through a remarkably similar condition as menopause, which is referred to as “male menopause” or “andropause.”
Andropause is sometimes used interchangeably with “low testosterone” or “hypogonadism. While the primary cause of andropause is age-related testosterone loss — there are other factors that can contribute to andropause, such as a lack of growth hormone or other critical hormones for men that also decline after 30.
Unlike menopause in women, which occurs at a specific point in time – specifically, after her last menstrual period — andropause in men occurs more slowly over time.
Most men between the ages of 35 and 65 will feel the symptoms of andropause. The signs of andropause include:
- Lack of libido and erectile dysfunction
- Fatigue/lack of energy
- Weight gain, particularly belly fat
- Loss of ability to build muscle, even when working out
- Depression, anxiety
Mood swings, memory loss, and other cognitive difficulties However, most, if not all, of the symptoms of andropause can be treated with hormone replacement therapy for men.
What Causes Andropause?
The primary cause of andropause is age-related testosterone loss. Men start producing testosterone in the womb. Testosterone levels increase as a boy grows into a man.
It is this increased level of testosterone production that results in sexual development and all of the secondary sexual characteristics we describe as male — facial hair, bigger muscles, deeper voice, etc.
After puberty and throughout adolescence, a man’s testosterone level continues to rise, peaking at about the age of 20. Then, testosterone levels start a steady downward decline. Once a man is over 35, his testosterone level drops by about 1% to 2% yearly.
That slow drop over time leads to the symptoms of andropause. Andropause is treated with testosterone replacement therapy. There are many benefits of testosterone replacement therapy for men who are suffering from andropause.
Testosterone therapy can:
- Improve your sex drive
- Give you more energy and stamina
- Help you lose weight
- Help you to build lean muscle
- Improve mood and cognition
What Every Man Needs to Know Testosterone Replacement and Andropause Treatment
Andropause is also known as hypogonadism, or more simply, “low testosterone.” But, no matter what you call it, the condition involves a drop in testosterone production that becomes more dramatic in men over the age of 45.
Doctors treat andropause or age-related testosterone deficiency with testosterone replacement therapy. It is an unfortunate fact of life that a man’s testosterone level drops as he ages.
Once you are over 35, you can expect to lose testosterone at a rate of 1% to 2% yearly. This is why it is so important for men to understand the many benefits of testosterone replacement therapy. Prescription testosterone replacement therapy for men is available via injection, topical creams or gels, skin patches, subdermal pellets, or oral medication.
We specialize in bioidentical pellet therapies. Testosterone replacement therapy is only available with a doctor’s prescription. You cannot buy testosterone online or anywhere without a doctor’s prescription.
While any doctor can write you a prescription for testosterone replacement therapy, you should work with a clinic like Dallas Anti-Aging and Wellness that specializes in age optimization services and age-related hormone decline. The Dallas Anti-Aging and Wellness is a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.
Our commitment is to help our patients feel young, youthful, and energized. We offer bioidentical hormone therapy treatments as well as highly specialized procedures designed to meet the personal needs of our patients and to reverse the effects of aging and energy loss caused by menopause or andropause.
Working with our highly trained and professional staff, you’ll be able to achieve a renewed outlook and regain the vitality of your youth. Our medical director is Dr. Escobar, a Texas licensed physician, has been practicing internal medicine for the last 25 years.
At Dallas Anti-Aging & Wellness, Dr. Escobar has experience with treating erectile dysfunction, balancing hormones with hormone pellet therapy, and has been trained in aesthetic procedures with Botox® and facial fillers.
Dr. Escobar has a warm bedside manner and spends time with his patients listening to their symptoms and is bi-lingual. He is also a member of the Texas Medical Association and the American Academy of Anti-Aging (A4M), where his training specifically focused on endocrinology.
” I was in my mid-50s. I’ve always kept myself in good shape. But, about a year or so ago, I started to notice that no matter how much I worked out, I was still paunchy around the middle, and I could not build muscle like I used to. I went to Dallas Anti-Aging and Wellness Center to have my testosterone levels tested. Sure enough, I was diagnosed with low testosterone. I have been on testosterone ever since, and I look and feel like I did in my 30s!”
David, J. Southlake, TX
If you would like to learn a little bit more about the many life-changing benefits of testosterone replacement therapy, please click here to contact us today or call us at (214) 646-1523.
