Wives, how do you know when your hubby (or significant other) is entering andropause, or have you even ever heard of such a thing as andropause?
A lot of women like to call it the real "MEN-O-PAUSE". Women go through menopause at a certain time in their life. Men go through something similar, but it is called andropause.
- Is he looking at that dream red sports car more often these days?
- Is he looking at those cute 20 yr olds too long for your liking?
- Is he losing his hair, or losing or gaining more weight recently?
Don’t divorce him! Bring him to TIFM!!
He just might be going thru andropause (menopause for men). It is very complex and happens to all men at different times of life. It has different symptoms but common causes. The average human male begins to feel some symptoms of andropause around the age of 40 to 45; which is followed by rapid deterioration after the age of 50.
Symptoms of andropause may include:
- Bone loss, thinning or weakening
- Brain fog or confusion
- Changes in hair growth patterns (more some places, less in others)
- Decreased libido or lack of interest in sex
- Erectile dysfunction, loss of erections or infertility
- General achy feeling
- Hot flashes or night sweats
- Inability to sleep
- Lethargy, decreased energy or fatigue
- Mood changes or depression
- Muscle loss or weakness
Androgens are the class of steroid hormones that are responsible for making human males into "men". Testosterone and its metabolites, called androgens, can start failing as early as age 35!
It's like going thru puberty — only in reverse!
What causes this is an area of much research and includes hypothalamus dysfunction in sending signals to the testicles (which makes more hormones), lessening response of the leydig cells (which makes testosterone) to the stimulatory effects of LH and FSH (yes wives, you have these hormones too), and an increase of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG); simply meaning there may be enough testosterone molecules on the bus, but the bus doesn't let the passengers off to go to work!!
What can be done?
Since there is great variability in andropause (just as there is in menopause), certain lab testing must be performed to determine what and where to start. Obviously, checking testosterone levels is one thing, but also its awful metabolite, called DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), is another. It usually goes up; which causes prostate problems and hair loss.
All hormones need to be tested (not just testosterone) as they are all inter-connected. Many physicians only test one or two (which is an invitation to failure or bad side effects). We can test ALL of them!
- Obviously we do a male hormone panel to measure many substances; includiung free-testosterone, dihydrotesterone (the bad stuff), etc.
- Thyroid function almost always decreases with age, and leads to lethargy, lack of drive and mood changes. We can fix this.
- Adrenal function suffers greatly during andropause. This is something that should always be checked. We can fix this also.
- Growth hormone is always the first thing we hear requested, and is seldom the underlying need in andropause, but we test for it to be sure. We can fix it if it is broken.
- Blood flow needs to be addressed because, at the age of andropause, inflammation from many different sources can cause plaque to develop in the blood vessels, and that is the leading cause of Erectile Dysfunction (ED)! We can fix these too as we are experts in chelation; a form of treatment for both ED and CAD (Coronary Artery Disease).
- Heavy metals also peak at the age of andropause, and can cause massive changes in the internal functions of your body. This is our area of expertise as well!
So, wives and spouses, as you can see, andropause can be a complex issue in your guy BUT it is very treatable at TIFM.
Call us or drag him in by his ... earlobe ... yeah ... that's it ... drag him in by his earlobes. We can help him to be the same old sexy guy you once knew!!!
And if he is a bit worn around the edges (sagging jowls, droopy eyelids, fat belly, thinning hair, etc.), we can fix those things too!!
Call us now before he starts looking to buy that sexy cherry red Porsche or other things that he thinks will help him regain his youth. Get him there »f»a»s»t»e»r» at TIFM!
Visit our website for more information about men's health, and then contact us online or call our Patient Care Coordinator at 972.239.6317 x134 for a FREE phone consultation and to setup an appointment.
