Andropause, the male menopause, is the result of a gradual drop in testosterone. Symptoms manifest themselves in a number of ways including physical, emotional, psychological and behavioral changes. Frequently men notice a gradual loss of energy, loss of muscle, loss of mental focus, increased fat, decreased stamina, loss of libido, and sexual dysfunction. Although a decline in hormone levels will occur in virtually all men with age, there is no way of predicting who will experience andropause symptoms of sufficient severity to seek medical help. According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 4-5 million men have low testosterone levels of which only 5-10% of these men will seek treatment.

A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report stated “male androgens progressively decline with age.” In this study it was found that the testosterone level of the men 70 years old was only 10% of that of the men 25 years of age. By the time men are between the ages of 40 and 55, they can experience signs similar to female menopause. Known as andropause, its symptoms include changes in body mass, resulting in less muscle and more fat, changes in attitudes and moods, fatigue, a loss of energy, sex drive and physical agility.

Men’s symptoms of andropause include:

The symptoms of andropause are also driven by your level of stress, quality of nutrition, amount of exercise and the environmental toxins you are exposed to on a daily basis.

Your physician-supervised program uses only bioidentical hormones, hormones which are identical to the body’s own chemistry, integrated with nutrition and fitness. This provides a natural treatment that helps men suffering the symptoms of andropause and live the best life possible.

Exams and Tests for Men
To determine your hormonal needs, the physician will thoroughly evaluate your symptoms and order saliva testing and/or blood labs to determine what your unique hormonal needs are. After starting therapy they will always reevaluate your hormone levels to insure that they are maintained within optimum balance.

A few of the initial hormones tested generally include:

In addition, your physician may recommend cholesterol testing, cardiac risk factors, and metabolic profiles. They may also recommend bone density testing as well as body compositions for your body fat percent and lean body mass. This will help them set your base line and gauge your progress in your treatment.

Treating Hormonal Imbalance and Andropause
In treating a man with a hormonal imbalance, Natural Wellness Center physicians replace exactly what is missing, or low, with the body's appropriate bioidentical hormones. They prescribe the hormones in the fashion that exactly match each man's prior hormonal needs. Testosterone can be replaced in multiple ways whether that be by use of injection, creams, gels, pellets or taken orally. The physicians follow up with every patient closely, evaluating symptoms and using laboratory tests to determine each patient's customized dose. Natural Wellness Center physicians order only the finest and most reputable compounding pharmacies to obtain the exact combination of hormones required to achieve hormonal balance.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, call the Natural Wellness Center at 808-988-0800.