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SOMETHING ABOUT TESTOSTERONE:
The Anti-Aging, Muscle Building,
Sex Drive and Mental Sharpness Hormone!
Male 'Menopause
The correct term is Andropause or 'viropause;' and, YES, men do go through it. The symptoms are much more gradual than the female menopause, and only rarely do men get the 'hot flushes.' But they do find an increase in nightly and morning fatigue, decreased sex interest and increased irritability...
Accept it or not, your body has been gradually changing and around 55 to 60 begins to rebel at all vestiges of manhood, this change can't logically be denied. The problem is not stress at work or financial pressures, a vacation with a loving partner won't stimulate a firm erection more often. When your testosterone level falls below 350 ng/dl. your masculine characteristic simply doesn't function properly. The pituitary is attempting to stimulate the demand for testosterone production but the testes can't produce.
" Hormonal Deficiency!" is a factor of Aging.
The diminishing ability to produce TESTOSTERONE is an ongoing and a degenerating process for men, the problem although unrecognized for years begins around the age of 30. Testosterone is recognized as the hormone of puberty: it makes muscles for boys and turns them into sexually functional men. But as men age, testosterone production decreases and has a profound effects on a man's health.
In the 1940's normal Testosterone range for the average man was 300 ng/dl higher than for men today. In the past, a drop in testosterone levels to 250 ng/dl was rarely reported before men were 80 years of age. Yet today, it is not an uncommon value for middle aged men!
Studies report "Chlorine in water has been shown to feminize developing male rats.
Testosterone levels are decreasing at an earlier age for men. 20% of all 50 year old men have testosterone levels below normal. Recent studies implicate Organic-Chlorines, pesticides and preservatives in foods act as "hormonal disruptors.
Testosterone Insufficiency is directly related to aging. 20 percent of Americas baby boomers are showing decreased levels of testosterone by 50 years of age, testosterone deficiency is a major unrecognized health problem.
Testosterone levels can be checked with a simple blood test.
MEN who find the following statements true, are candidates for hormone (including testosterone) replacement!
1. Decrease in sex drive.
2. Erections less strong
3. Erections less frequent
4. Lack of energy
5. Decrease in strength or endurance
6. lost height
7. Decreased 'enjoyment of life'
8. Sad and/or grumpy
9. Deterioration in sports ability
10. Falling asleep after dinner
11. Decreased work performance
Risks of Low Testosterone:
Until recently, few men in the United States elected testosterone replacement because of the fear of prostate cancer. In Europe, testosterone replacement is much more common. Recent studies imply that U.S. men are misinformed. Rather, medical studies confirm:
low levels of testosterone are directly correlated to:
· heart disease and myocardial infarction
· strokes and cardiovascular disease
· prostate cancer (yes, low levels are higher risk)
· senile dementia
· osteoporosis and hip fracture
A new philosophy directs the replacement of testosterone in men. Higher testosterone levels have systemic effects, not only improved sexual performance, but also, decreased stress, stronger muscles and possibly less heart, bone, and blood vessel disease.
Aging results in lowered testosterone levels and all of the following:
1. A decline in muscle mass and strength.
2. Increase in body fat mass, particularly abdominal fat and pectoral fat.
3. Decrease of bone mass. (Osteoporosis is not just a problem for women).
4. Decline in sex drive and frequency of sex thoughts.
5. Increased frequency of erectile dysfunction in men and diminished sexual response and pleasure in women.
6. Decreased sense of overall well being, perception of energy level and vigor.
7. Decline in stamina and exertion performance
8. Decline in cognitive skills, concentration and memory.
9. Coronary artery disease and increased cholesterol levels.
Testosterone and Heart Studies
Testosterone is an anabolic (or building) hormone. The above age-related decline in testosterone levels is associated with the following identifiable signs or symptoms:
1. A decline in muscle mass and strength. Loss of muscle volume and strength are hallmarks of aging. Diminishing testosterone levels directly correlate with a decrease in the synthesis rate of muscle proteins, formation of contractile structures and the force generating capabilities of muscle cells. Declines in muscle mass are also correlated with increased risk for falls and fractures.
2. Increase in body fat mass, particularly abdominal fat and pectoral fat. Sometimes, Gynecomastia, (enlargement of breast tissue in men) may occur. Decreases in testosterone are also associated with increasing levels of leptin. Leptin is a peptide hormone produced by fat cells and its circulating levels are directly reflective of an individual's fat mass. Adequate testosterone levels and lean mass are inversely correlated with leptin levels.
3. Decrease of bone mass. Studies indicate that age and associated declines in testosterone levels correlate with bone loss in men. Declines in Estradiol and testosterone levels are associated with bone loss in women as well, and this phenomenon appears at an earlier age and at a more rapid rate compared to men. Up to 30% of men aged 60 and over may become osteoporotic. One in 6 will fracture a hip at some point in his life. Women are hormonally and statistically more complex than men. Female hormone replacement studies do not separate the effects of estrogens and testosterone, but do show benefits of proper overall hormone replacement programs. An unsupplemented woman will at ages 60 - 80, show a 50% reduction in her original bone mineral density and 1 in 4 will suffer a vertebral or hip fracture.
4. Decline in sex drive and frequency of sex thoughts. Interestingly, this decline precedes declines in actual performance.
5. Increased frequency of erectile dysfunction in men and diminished sexual response and pleasure in women.
6. Decreased sense of overall well being, perception of energy level and vigor. These types of complaints, along with non-specific irritability, are frequently the first symptoms associated with declining testosterone levels, but are the most often overlooked or attributed to stress or "not being as young as you used to be."
7. Decline in stamina and exertional performance. A graph of the declines in testosterone and growth hormone levels can be placed over a graph of the percentage of professional athletes still performing at a given age, with essentially identical shapes. Other "performance-minded" individuals, like business executives and people whose careers demand multi-tasking or complex problem solving skills, also frequently note similar functional declines.
8. Decline in cognitive skills, concentration and memory. Studies show declining testosterone level is strongly associated with cognitive decline and diminished visual-spatial memory.
9 . Coronary artery disease and cholesterol derangement. In population studies, low levels of testosterone are associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiac disease. Older men treated with testosterone can show decreases in total cholesterol and LDL (bad cholesterol). Low testosterone levels are also correlated with a greater degree of atherosclerotic obstruction when coronary artery disease is present.
The goal of testosterone replacement therapy is to minimize, prevent or reverse the affects of our age related decline. The beneficial effects of attaining healthy testosterone levels are seen for both men and women and are essentially the inverse of the aforementioned list of problems. Of course, the goals for testosterone level are appropriately lower for women.
Ongoing Research
Total testosterone is not as important as the Free or unbound testosterone, as the latter is bio-available to the tissue. High levels of estrogen and sex hormone binding globulin reduce bio-available testosterone. Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) level increases with age. This protein links irreversible to testosterone, so even though testosterone may be present, it may not "free" or biologically available.
Detecting the problem is easily accomplished by a simple blood test that measures the serum levels of testosterone. Deficiency is a serum level below 350 ng/dl.
The Prostate Examination: Urinary System
Before starting on testosterone replacement, every male should have a prostate examination a PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test. Testosterone therapy is absolutely contraindicated for men with prostate cancer. Prostate and PSA testing is recomended every six months.
Additional Steps to Be Taken:
Men on testosterone replacement should take 160 mg of Saw Palmetto with Pygeum twice daily. This herb will block the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which affects prostate hypertrophy and possibly cancer development. There are no significiant side-effects to this herb. In higher dosages, it is registered as Proscar.(R)
Special Acknowledgement:
Abraham H. Kryger, M.D., DMD. Dr. Kryger is the author of the Testosterone Conspiracy.
references:
Dr. Lichten's, Malcolm Carruthers, MD.Male Menopause: Restoring Vitality and Virility. HarperCollins Publishing. London, England. 1996, p.132
