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| Linda Hegstrand MD |
| Complete Wellness Ctr 2426 Burton Street SE Suite 3 Grand Rapids,MI 49546 616.464.0470 DrLindaCWC@gmail.com |
Blue Heron Academy |
The Andropause Strain: Understanding Its Effect on Your Life
Linda Hegstrand, MD, PhD
Andropause, the male counterpart of menopause, was first defined in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1944. Instead of a rapid decline of sex hormones, men go through a gradual decline in their ability to produce testosterone. Andropause is the "natural cessation of sexual function in older men" and also refers to sexual regression in men over 40 due to dropping levels of free testosterone. Sex hormone binding globulin increases with age. That is what, in fact, results in a decrease in the active form of testosterone. Endocrinologically, there is not a significant difference between the hypogonadal (atrophied sex glands) man and the post-menopausal hypogonadal woman.
Since there is a slow, gradual drop in testosterone, the symptoms are not abrupt. Consequently, andropause is commonly overlooked. Andropause is becoming a significant health problem in industrialized countries. This is believed to be due to increased levels of foreign estrogens and environmental toxins, increased stress, lack of essential fatty acids and other nutrients, and increased demands on removing toxins by the liver.
Andropause generally becomes apparent in middle-age men, but young men in their late 20's may have functional hormonal imbalances as well. Dr. Carruthers explanation portrays a common clinical picture. ”The typical story is of a middle-aged man who gradually loses his sex drive, strength, energy, and enthusiasm for life and love. Action man has become inaction man. An all-enveloping mental and physical tiredness descends on him, often for no apparent reason. He changes from being a positive, bullish person who is good to be around, to a negative pessimistic, depressed bear with a sore head and is increasingly difficult to work with. At work he is seen to have ‘gone off the boil’ and no amount of encouragement or urging will improve his performance. At home, family relations tend to become increasingly strained, and social life and activities dwindle and wilt. His sexual life is usually a disaster area, with the loss of libido and intermittent failure to achieve an erection leading to performance anxiety and eventually complete impotence. This creates a downward spiral of failing function both in the bedroom and in the boardroom.”
Functional andropause results when there is an imbalance in the ratio of testosterone to estrogens. A normal serum testosterone to estrogen ratio is 50:1. A man may have a normal amount of free testosterone, but have a ratio of for example 8:1. This is an estrogen dominant state and may cause symptoms. Symptoms of andropause include cardiovascular pathology, erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, mental fatigue and poor concentration, depression, decreased initiative, muscle soreness, and decreased physical stamina. Signs of andropause include increased total cholesterol and/or triglycerides, decreased HDL cholesterol, elevated fasting blood glucose, elevated blood pressure, unexplained mid-section weight gain, increased fat distribution in the regions of the breast and hips, varicose veins and/or hemorrhoids, and changes in visual acuity.
Testosterone has a major influence on several aspects of human physiology including cardiovascular function, red blood cell production, bone formation, libido, body mass, and mood. Jonathan Wright, MD stated. “Most physicians practicing in the country today completely ignore the role of testosterone in maintaining men’s cardiovascular health. In fact, it was only until relatively recently that most physicians believed that elevated testosterone was actually dangerous for the heart. This view seems to be based on 2 misconceptions. First, elevated testosterone in women can be dangerous. This may be true, but women are not men, and there is no logical reason why both sexes should react to testosterone in precisely the same way. Second careless use of anabolic steroid drugs, such as the especially dangerous methyltestosterone- by some male athletes and body builders has been associated with serious hear disease.” Drugs with hormone-like activity behave very differently from natural hormones. Most physicians do not realize the importance of this difference. In fact, the heart muscle has more receptor sites for testosterone than any other muscle.
Testosterone increases red blood cell production that in turn increases energy by increasing oxygen carrying capacity. This results in increased cellular energy, ATP. Bone formation is increased by testosterone in men. Men with low testosterone are at increased risk for developing osteoporosis. Testosterone influences the sex drive in both men and women. In men, it is also responsible for sperm production and the ability to maintain an erection. A man’s sense of well being, mood, and vitality are impacted by the level of testosterone. Depression and lack of motivation can be resolved as men’s hormone physiology is improved.
If you or your loved ones are experiencing this scenario, evaluation of your hormonal balance by a physician familiar with integrative health care may improve your health and well being.