Andropause: Menopause In Men

Can menopausal circumstances happen among men and how does it make a difference on someone physically and emotionally?

QUESTION 1

We often hear about women experiencing menopause. Even so, are men also able to experience it? Can you explain the symptoms that will be experienced by the patient and how it can be prevented?

ANSWER:

Men can experience menopausal issues similar to women. 

This condition is known as andropause and it happened due to the lack of androgen hormones, primarily testosterone. 

Besides affecting the body's organ systems, people who face this situation which is known as hypogonadism, will experience psychological, emotional, and sexual issues. 

Nevertheless, it can also be experienced by male teenagers and adults. Patients typically experience the following symptoms:

• Decreased sexual drive, erectile dysfunction of penis, impotence, shrinking testes, and enlarged breasts.
• Increase in body weight and subcutaneous fat, especially around stomach area (enlarged belly). 
• Teeth and hairs on one's body start to fall and one experience graying hair.
• Loss of appetite, constipation, thinning of the skin and back pain.
• Difficulty in concentrating and decision-making. 
• Fatigue, lack of stamina and physical strength. 
• Lack of sleep and frequent drowsiness. 
• Decrease in work performance and impaired memory. 
• Depression, restlessness, anxiety, and emotional disorder. 

Besides that, lack of testosterone can also bring upon greater risks.

Disease risks

Patients may experience cardiovascular diseases (heart), high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.

One can also more prone to experience osteoporosis, anemia (decrease in blood) and dementia (senile). 

Unhealthy lifestyles such as lack of exercise, fast food, and alcohol intake are among the factors in which men experience a decrease in testosterone levels.

Smokers and those who engage in drug abuse also experience the same risks.

Besides that, heart, kidney disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia are among those that are susceptible to andropause.

Early prevention of these issues can be done by practicing a healthy diet and maintaining an ideal weight. 

Individuals are recommended to exercise at least for 30 minutes a day and avoid drinking alcohol. 

It is also recommended that patients get professional advice if they experience andropause symptoms.

QUESTION 2

How is andropause diagnosis done and what is the most effective treatment to treat the condition? 

ANSWER:

The diagnosis for lack of testosterone among patients is done based on the symptoms experienced physically and clinically. 

Their level of testosterone in body needs to be checked. 

Continuous treatment is needed to enhance patients' quality of life and testosterone replacement therapy is the latest method to restore hormones at normal levels.

Intramuscular injections will be done every few weeks or months. 

However, this method might increase red blood cells and cause blood clots in lungs. 

Pulmonary microembolism is among the factors that injections with long-term effects have yet to receive approval from The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States of America.

Unlike testosterone gel, its use is much safer. 

Patients only need to apply it on their arms, shoulders, thighs or stomach and it will be absorbed through the skin into the body. 

Besides being approved by the FDA, the formulation of the treatment has fewer side effects on its users.

Testosterone replacement therapy improves body composition by building muscles and reducing fat mass. 

Furthermore, it can increase insulin sensitivity, in line with metabolic syndromes and decrease type 2 diabetes risk.

This treatment also helps sexual function, emotion, energy, and depression problems. 

Not just that, it also reduces the risk of death and multiple causes of cardiovascular diseases. 

Even so, it should be noted that testosterone replacement therapy is not suitable for prostate cancer patients. 

Those who experience respiratory disorder problems during sleep (sleep apnea) and have excess red blood cells are not recommended to undergo testosterone replacement therapy. 

Patients also need to be aware that testosterone replacement therapy is a life-long treatment. 

Doctors will advise patients to apply that gel every day. 

It is intended to ensure a more stable testosterone level which is equal to the blood physiology level that is produced by the testes. 

Patients are also advised not to take a bath in an hour after applying the gel on their skin. 

This measure helps testosterone replacement to be absorbed fully into the body. 

However, treatment needs to be stopped if complications happen especially an increase in the percentage of red blood cells or hematocrit.