Andropause (Symptoms of Low Testosterone)

Andropause

The typical male testosterone level is between 10 nmol/L - 30 nmol/L (300 ng/dl to 900 ng/dl). In a 45 year old man normal/average testosterone levels are around 17 nmol/L - 24 nmol/L (500-700 ng/dl). Anything lower should be addressed with your family physician. And anything less than 8.5 nmol/L (250 ng/dl) should be cause for concern and immediate attention by a Physician or Endocrinologist.

Depression, fatigue, and loss of motivation are commonly caused by low testosterone. Unfortunately many physicians would rather prescribe an antidepressant than bring back to normal a natural substance your body already makes.

Ask to have a blood panel done. And depending on the country you live in, its often covered. When your blood work arrives your physician may refuse treatment due to your "normal" testosterone levels, when it's actually somewhere closer to the bottom of the range. Then, a gentle reminder of optimal health may be in order. If you kindly point out you have the T levels of a sick aging 90 year old, maybe he/she will come around. Emphasize Low Testosterone Symptoms and that you would like to be proactive in your healthcare. Know that you can always get the help you need at www.LowTestosterone.com.

And if youre suffering from, or experiencing a loss of sex drive, lack of sleep, easily irritable, development of impotence, depression, fatigue, memory loss or nights sweats, this should give any knowledgeable doctor a red flag that T levels aren't on par. Do not be fooled by the grossly overrated scale that many skeptical physicians like to use. It's extremely important to have your T levels up where they should be - your quality of life depends on it.

Male hypogonadism is most often treated with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in patients who are not trying to conceive. Commonly used testosterone replacement therapies include transdermal (through the skin) using a patch or gel, injections, or pellets. Oral testosterone is no longer used because it is broken down in the liver and rendered inactive. It also can cause severe liver damage. Like many hormonal therapies, changes take place over time. It may take as long as 2–3 months at optimum level to reduce the symptoms, particularly the word finding and cognitive dysfunction. Testosterone levels in the blood should be evaluated to ensure the increase is adequate. Levels between 17 - 24 nmol/L (500 and 700 ng/dL) are considered adequate for young, healthy men from 20 to 40 years of age, but the lower edge of the normal range is poorly defined and single testosterone levels alone cannot be used to make the diagnosis. Modern treatment may start with 200 mg intramuscular Depot testosterone, repeated every 10–14 days. But more frequent injections are recommend to maintain stable blood plasma levels. Getting a blood level of testosterone on the 13th day will give a "trough" level, assisting the physician in deciding whether the correct dose is being given.


Example:

In Canada the scale widely used is 6 nmol/L - 27 nmol/L. Remember 6 is the lowest and 27 is the highest. If you are near the lowest end then clearly your test levels are not where they should be unless you're a dying 90 year old man! Do not be fooled or swayed by ANY physician that tells you that this is "normal." This is NOT normal.

Andropause, also known as the male menopause or MANopause, is the result of a gradual drop in testosterone which is an androgen - giving the condition its name. In many cases, bio-identical hormones can be part of the solution. When men get into their early 30s, they begin losing testosterone at a rate of approximately one to two percent a year. According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 4-5 million men have symptoms of low testosterone levels, and yet only 5-10% of these men will seek treatment.

A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report analyzed male hormones and found that the testosterone levels in most 70 year old men were 10 percent of the level in males that are 25 years old. By the time men are between the ages of 40 and 55 they can begin experiencing symptoms of Andropause.


In men

Low testosterone can be identified through a simple blood test performed by a laboratory, ordered by a physician. This test is typically ordered in the morning hours, when levels are highest, as levels can drop by as much as 13% during the day.

Treatment is often prescribed for total testosterone (TT) levels below 12nmol/l (350 ng/dL). If the serum total testosterone level is between 8 nmol/dl (230ng/dl) and 12nmol/l (350 ng/dl), repeating the measurement of total testosterone with sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) to calculate free testosterone or free testosterone by equilibrium dialysis may be helpful. Treatment may be necessary even if the patient's total testosterone level is within the "normal" range.

The standard range given is based off widely varying ages and, given that testosterone levels naturally decrease as humans age, age-group specific averages should be taken into consideration when discussing treatment between doctor and patient. A twenty-seven year old male with a testosterone level of 380 ng/dL would be in the "normal" range, but would likely have low testosterone to blame if he experiences some or many of the symptoms listed below. This score would put him in the bottom 5% of his age-group, but would be a more common score for a man who is 80+ years old.


Some of he symptoms of male menopause:

Irritable Male Syndrome
Weight gain
Sleep apnea
Memory loss
Diminished libido
Hair Loss
Erectile dysfunction
Hot Flashes
Muscle loss
Depression
Fatigue
Night Sweats in Men
Gynecomastia (male breasts)