When people think of menopause they tend to think this is an experience only women go through. However, this is simply not the case. Andropause, more commonly known as male menopause, is a very real condition that occurs when men get older. Other names for this condition are testosterone deficiency and late-onset hypogonadism.
Andropause VS Female Menopause?
The cause of andropause is basically the same cause for women – meaning this occurs when a person experiences changes in levels of sex hormones due to age. Yet, the main difference between andropause and menopause is the type of hormone that changes. In men this is testosterone, also known as androgen, which is the hormone that produces in the testes. For women it is estrogen that produces in the ovaries. Another difference between the two is not all men experience this change, however all women experience menopause.
Symptoms of Male Menopause?
Testosterone does so many different things for your body such as fuels your mental and physical energy, along with flight-or-flight response, muscle mass, and changes during puberty. Therefore, changes in this hormone level can have a dramatic effect on a man’s mental and physical health. Due to the decline men have in testosterone they can experience these symptoms: fatigue, weakness, depression, reduced muscle mass, decreased bone density, increased body fat, erectile dysfunction, other sexual problems, and more. Therefore, many turn to alternative treatments to help fix these symptoms that unfortunately and inevitably come along with age.
Diagnosing and Treating Male Menopause
To see if one is experiencing male menopause your doctor will take a sample of your blood to test your testosterone levels. You can also fill out the Andropause Rating Scale which is the most commonly used scale worldwide to measure health-related quality of life and symptoms in aging males. It is a self-administered questionnaire that will help to gauge where you are when it comes to aging:
How to Counter Andropause
Many men feel too intimated or uncomfortable to discuss problems that come along with andropause, especially sex issues, which can delay needed treatment. If one is experiencing symptoms that do not necessarily interfere with their daily lives they likely just have to make different lifestyle decisions. These typically includes:
- Regular Exercise
- A healthier diet
- Make sure to get enough sleep
- Reduce stress
Andropause Treatment
However, for a lot of men andropause does affect their daily lives and treatment is the best option. Here, at WellMedica we have experienced first-hand how treatment can change individual’s lives for the better and allow them to live a fuller life. We treat menopause and male menopause with Hormone Therapy. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy has been used since the late 1930s and is often considered one of the most natural ways to deliver hormones to the body. The hormones are identical to the body’s own both structurally and biologically. Since, the body does the work on its own once the sterile pellet is inserted, this increases compliance because patients do not have to remember to take a pill, give an injection, or apply a cream each day.
Our Doctor, Dima Ali, meets with all her patients before starting treatment to create a customized treatment plan for each individual’s needs, creating the best treatment possible. If you are interested in learning more about treatment click here.
You can visit our office 1801 Robert Fulton Dr. Suite 540 Reston, VA 20191. Call (703) 787-9866 to set up a consultation with Board Certified Cosmetic Laser Surgeon Dr. Dima Ali. We look forward to seeing you!
An anti-aging consultation with Dr. Dima – containing medical history and test information – is required before treatment. Insurance Disclaimer: WellMedica Aesthetic & Anti-Aging does not accept insurance at this time, however we do provide the necessary documents for patients to submit to their insurance companies for reimbursement.
Some of the other resourceful links for learning more about menopause are as follows:
WebMD
Menopause.org
Healthline.com
MayoClinic.org
