As men age, they gradually lose androgen, or testosterone, the hormone that makes men ‘men’. Hormone changes are a natural part of aging, but men and women experience these changes differently.
For women, when ovulation ends, their hormone production plummets over a relatively short period of time. Unlike this dramatic reproductive hormone plunge that women experience during menopause, sex hormone changes in men occur gradually over many years.
The altering effects of androgen decline often go unnoticed at first until they eventually become a noticeable health problem and significant health risk.
When It Begins
Androgen (testosterone) decline can begin as early as age thirty in men with androgen decreasing slowly and steadily by 1% per year. So by age seventy, a man’s testosterone level may be half of what it used to be.
Symptoms
Signs of androgen decline include:
- Loss of energy
- Loss of concentration
- Loss of muscle mass
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Sexual dysfunction
Treatments
Asking for help can be hard for men, but by being open and honest with their doctor, they can discuss current and effective treatments.
Risks for Disease
Boston University studies link androgen deficiency to gaining belly fat which increases the risk for heart disease, stroke and type two diabetes.
How to Cope
Lifestyle changes, such as a new healthier eating plan, an exercise routine and a stress management program can not only help reverse these natural signs of aging, but can help lengthen a man’s life.
