Until now, human beings have not found a way to avoid old age, and with it the deterioration of their organism, and this leads to many psychological and biological consequences. In man in particular, an inevitable stage called “andropause” occurs.
In men, age brings with it a decrease in androgen levels . These changes in hormonal levels are associated with a set of clinical manifestations encompassed within a syndrome that has received multiple names.
In this article, we will provide you with the necessary information so that you know how to manage and cope with this particular period for men.
What is andropause?
Man has pathologies typical of his gender that come to appear at a certain age as part of the hormonal aging process, among which the stage known as andropause stands out.
Also known as hypogonadism , testosterone deficiency syndrome, androgen decline syndrome in male aging or male climacteric, andropause is nothing more than a stage in which a decrease in hormone production occurs, especially one called testosterone.
The term andropause is used to describe the symptoms and signs associated with a gradual decline in testosterone secretion, which occurs during aging in men.
It can occur between the ages of 40 and 55 and, unlike menopause in women, this condition occurs gradually and manifests itself in the progressive loss of sexual abilities.
It is not a disease, it is a stage typical of the male sex. This problem is related to the aging of the organism, mainly of the gonad glands in charge of the production of testosterone.
symptoms of andropause
In man, alterations occur in the organism, which reveals the existence that something is not right.
We must mention that the early appearance of the symptoms of andropause is due to the fact that the individual has underlying pathologies such as hypertension, diabetes, kidney failure, among others. The manifestation of the following symptoms may indicate the presence of the stage of andropause:
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is, among others, a consequence of low testosterone. The lack of firmness in the male erection or the null presence of it, may be indicative of the suffering of andropause in men.
reduced libido
Libido is a term that is used in medicine and psychoanalysis in a general way, to refer to a person’s sexual desire. As sexual behavior, libido would occupy the appetitive phase in which an individual tries to access a potential partner.
The libido in men is often related to testosterone levels, which decreases as men age, directly impacting sexual appetite.
testicular decline
Changes due to aging in the male reproductive system occur mainly in the testicles. Tissue mass decreases and the level of the male sex hormone testosterone gradually falls.
Exhaustion and lack of energy
Exhaustion and lack of energy generally manifest with old age, this is due, among other causes, to the decrease in testosterone levels in the blood, a hormone that keeps the body’s musculoskeletal system active.
The presence of reluctance, apathy in carrying out daily activities may be an indication of the presence of andropause in men.
reduced muscle strength
With the passage of age and the achievement of other factors such as age and the decrease or absence of sports activity, they can cause a progressive reduction in muscle strength.
Testosterone is directly related to muscle strength in men. Decreased levels of this hormone in the blood will inevitably also lead to a reduction in muscle strength.
Memory and attention problems
Studies carried out indicate that in the andropause stage there is a decrease in the cognitive functions of the individual.
The lack of memory, concentration or attention, acts that keep us in constant contact with reality, added to other manifestations, are indicative of the stages of aging in man.
Circulation disturbances
Some pathologies associated with the circulatory system, such as high blood pressure, can occur in the andropause stage.
As mentioned, the main cause of the presence of andropause is the progressive low level of testosterone. Some studies have indicated that there is a relationship between low testosterone levels and cardiovascular risk factors.
Studies in men with heart disease show lower levels of testosterone in the blood than those with normal arterial function.
Depression and bad mood
Andropause begins with subtle changes, which are often wrongly attributed to stress conditions, depression, or age changes.
These changes affect the mood, and can cause irritability, restlessness, decreased self- esteem , loss of self-confidence , fear of common everyday situations and their personal situations are affected.
This psychological picture can be interpreted on this occasion as the mental illness of this stage of man. Likewise, low testosterone levels could alter mood, generally causing a feeling of sadness .
trouble sleeping
Hormonal changes can affect sleep patterns (either with insomnia or with a feeling of continuous sleepiness), although it does not have to be serious.
Anemia
Among the various functions and utilities that testosterone has, is that it regulates erythropoiesis in various species of mammals, including humans of both sexes.
Although testosterone has been shown to have an effect on erythrocyte stem cells, it also has the ability to regulate the availability of iron in the body. Iron is an important component of hemoglobin , and its deficiency leads to anemia. To detect this, a blood test is necessary.
Osteoporosis
Regarding osteoporosis in men in the andropausal stage, any abnormal testosterone deficiency has repercussions.
It has been shown that the long-term decrease in testosterone is typical in 30% of men with vertebral osteoporosis, considering that with less testosterone, there is less intestinal absorption of calcium, which leads to decreased bone formation.
Back pain, loss of height, stooped posture may be indicative of a process of osteoporosis, a bone densitometry is recommended.
excessive sweating
We call “hot flashes” an intense sensation of heat, which usually occurs in people around 40-50 years of age, with ostensibly physical manifestations (blushing, sweating), unrelated to ambient temperature.
In men, it is estimated that andropause begins at the end of the third decade, with vasomotor manifestations (heat and sweating). Men suffer a much earlier and much slower drop in testosterone, in such a way that the vast majority do not associate this unexpected heat with andropausal symptoms.
Causes of andropause
Although the decrease in testosterone production is considered the main cause of andropause, there are other factors that can aggravate it, of which we mention the following:
testosterone deficiency
The reasons for the decline in testosterone with age may be linked to different factors related to the testicle and its hormonal regulation by the pituitary and hypothalamus in the brain.
It seems that in advanced age the secretion of the sex hormone releasing hormone decreases due to a depletion effect. At the same time, there may be a decrease in testosterone-producing cells at the level of the testicles.
Aging
With the increase in age comes the aging of the organs, including those linked to the production of hormones. From the third decade on, normal aging in men causes a 1% annual drop in testosterone levels; this percentage increases gradually from the age of 45.
However, those men with risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, obesity…), will probably notice a greater and more abrupt drop in said levels.
Genetic factors
Genetic disorders such as Klinefelter syndrome, hemochromatosis, Kallmann syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and myotonic dystrophy can lead to the andropause stage.
vascular problems
Another cause to which the aggravation of the andropause stage is attributed, are the problems in the circulatory system. According to several studies , men with heart disease had lower levels of testosterone in their blood than those with normal arterial function.
cigarette consumption
Another factor that affects the clinical manifestations and symptoms of andropause is smoking.
The consequences of being an active or passive smoker and in particular on andropause have been sufficiently documented, since it can precipitate premature aging of the organs responsible for the control and production of hormones, specifically androgens.
Excessive alcohol consumption
Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages can also accelerate early aging or cause damage to the organs responsible for the control and production of hormones, specifically androgens such as testosterone.
emotional stress
Psychological disorders cannot be seen as a “conventional” emotional problem, as a response to life events; they must be studied and treated also as the triggers of other biological stages in man.
andropause treatment
Below we will indicate according to what the literature on the subject writes, about some ways to treat this biological stage in man:
Medications indicated by specialist
The pharmacological medical treatment to mitigate this stage is the replacement of the missing testosterone hormone in the blood. For this, intramuscular injections, gels can be applied in various parts of the body and even administered orally.
It is important to take into account that, if the diagnosis is andropause, one must be very vigilant with the prostate.
Maintain a healthy diet
Leading a healthy lifestyle is the key to avoiding premature aging of the organs, especially those responsible for the control and production of hormones.
Perform physical exercise
It has been proven that constant physical activity during the andropause stage mitigates its effects. The indicated physical activity are those high intensity physical activities such as hits, power sports, fast races, anaerobic or aerobic activities of high duration.
Reduce alcohol and coffee consumption
Reduce the consumption of alcoholic beverages and stimulants such as coffee, contribute to the preservation of health and well-being of the body. The practice of healthy habits in relation to the consumption of alcohol and coffee, can guarantee a late aging of our organs.
avoid cigarette
Similar to drinking alcohol and coffee, avoiding cigarette smoking is important for our overall well-being. As mentioned, there is enough literature that proves the harmful effects of tobacco.
Avoid stress and anxiety
Stress and anxiety alter our psyche , our way of perceiving our environment with reality. These pathological states alter the proper functioning of our body, significantly altering the cycles of life, including the andropause cycle.
In summary, andropause is not a disease, it corresponds to a stage in the life of man and which we cannot avoid but mitigate. From early on we must learn about it and know how to deal with it.
Just as women need understanding and comprehension of men during their menopausal stage, in the same way men require the same treatment during andropause, because they correspond to inseparable cycles of both sexes.
Faced with this, a healthy lifestyle and the periodic practice of sports activities are the most indicated therapies at this stage. Drug treatment should be taken as a last resort.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.