When there is less testosterone available to do its work, the testosterone target-organ response decreases, bringing about many changes. Since there is great variability in testosterone levels among healthy men, therefore not all men will experience the same changes to the same extent. But typical responses to low testosterone levels can be broadly classified into:
Is there anything I can do to prevent andropause?
It is a fact that decline in testosterone levels with increasing age occurs in all men. Some current studies suggest that smoking and high cholesterol level may increase the risks for early andropause. Therefore, you should quit smoking and target at better cholesterol level control for prevention. Regular exercise will also help to maintain the muscle and bone mass.
What are the treatment options?
Andropause is part of a normal aging process. Most men can manage the changes smoothly when they have more understanding about the process and better psychological support. Testosterone replacement therapy may be considered if the symptoms are bothering them.
Doctor will check carefully by blood tests and physical examination for potential candidates of testosterone replacement therapy. The goal of testosterone replacement therapy is to minimize, prevent or reverse the effect of our age-related decline of testosterone. Administration of adequate testosterone may have the following benefits:
- improvement in libido and erectile function
- improvement in body composition (ratio of fat to lean muscle mass).
- improvement in bone density.
- improvement of cognitive function.
The options for testosterone replacement therapy include oral capsules, injection and skin patches. The therapy is shown to be highly effective at relieving andropause symptoms within 3-6 weeks.
There are two conditions in which testosterone replacement therapy should never be used. They are prostate cancer and breast cancer in male. In addition, there are several other conditions where this therapy may be unsuitable, such as liver and heart diseases. Testosterone can only be taken under the direction from your doctor. Self-treatment may result in serious side-effects, such as impotence and infertility.
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