You've probably heard of menopause in women, but did you know men go through their own version of hormonal changes as they age?
It's called andropause, and it can have a major effect on your health and how you feel day to day. In this post, you’ll learn about andropause’s symptoms, causes, and what you can do about it.
What Is Andropause?
Andropause is the male version of menopause. It happens when testosterone levels start dropping as you get older, usually beginning in your 30s, though just like menopause, every individual is different.
But unlike menopause, which takes an average of 7 years in women, andropause is a slow, constant process that never stops. After age 30, men typically lose about 1 to 2% of their testosterone each year.
While this is natural, if it causes your testosterone levels to drop too low, you might end up with clinically low testosterone (low T), which is usually defined as total testosterone below 300 ng/dL and/or free testosterone below 9 ng/dL.
However, it’s important to understand that you can have total testosterone levels above these values and still feel the symptoms of low T. Everyone’s body is different, and you can have numbers in the “healthy” range but still be suffering.
Signs and Symptoms of Andropause that Has Caused Low T
The changes that come with andropause usually start slowly but will eventually result in the symptoms of low T.
You might notice you're losing muscle and gaining weight, especially around your belly (this is known as visceral fat). Many men find they don't have as much energy as they used to, making it harder to exercise or even get through the day.
Sleep can become a problem too—you might have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, which makes you even more tired.
Changes in your sex life are common too. You might not be as interested in sex as you used to be (known as low libido), or you might have trouble getting or keeping erections (erectile dysfunction).
This can be tough to deal with and can affect your relationships and how you feel about yourself. Some men even get hot flashes like women do during menopause, though they're usually not as bad.
Your mood and thinking can change too. You might feel more grumpy or moody than usual. Some men feel down or anxious. Many notice they have trouble focusing, concentrating, or remembering things, a symptom known as brain fog.
Why It's Dangerous to Ignore Low Testosterone
When you don't treat low testosterone, it can lead to serious health problems. Your heart health can suffer because testosterone helps keep your blood vessels and heart working well.
Your bones can get weaker too, which means you're more likely to break them if you fall (osteoporosis). This is especially important as you get older when falls become more common and more dangerous.
Your body might start having trouble dealing with sugar, which can lead to diabetes or other metabolic disorders, like insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome. The mix of losing muscle and gaining fat can start a cycle that's hard to break—the less muscle you have, the harder it is to stay active, which leads to more muscle loss.
Some research shows that low testosterone might even make your brain age faster, and most men with low T experience brain fog, as mentioned above.
How Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) Can Help
The good news is there are ways to deal with andropause. Your healthcare provider can prescribe you testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) through shots, gels, or pellets. This treatment has decades of research and positive clinical outcomes supporting it and is the gold standard for treating low T.
If you go this route, you'll need regular check-ups to make sure everything's working right and to catch any problems early.
Your everyday habits make a big difference too. Regular exercise, especially lifting weights and getting your heart rate up, helps keep your muscles strong and your weight in check.
Not only can regular exercise—especially high-intensity interval training and weight training—help your body naturally produce a little more testosterone, but you’ll also find that you’re more motivated to exercise and able to exercise more effectively when your testosterone levels are back to normal.
Your diet matters too—you need plenty of protein to keep your muscles healthy and good fats to help your body make hormones. Think lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts, and healthy oils.
Finally, getting enough sleep and finding ways to deal with stress can make a big difference in your hormonal health.
Excess stress can cause your body to flood with cortisol, which can suppress your testosterone levels and eventually lead your cortisol production to collapse, a condition called adrenal fatigue.
Lack of sleep can similarly cause major hormonal issues because that’s the time when your body produces most of your hormones.
The Importance of Regular Tests and Check-Ups
You'll need to see your healthcare provider regularly to check your hormone levels and make any necessary adjustments. We prefer the DUTCH test as the gold standard of hormone testing.
These check-ups aren't just about testosterone levels. Your healthcare provider will look at the whole picture of your health because everything's connected. They might suggest other tests or treatments depending on what they find.
If You’re Experiencing the Symptoms of Andropause, We Can Help
Remember, andropause is normal, but you don't have to just put up with feeling bad. Getting help early can prevent a lot of problems down the road. Everyone's experience is different, which is why individualized treatment is so important.
If you suspect that you are suffering from andropause, your next step is to get your hormone levels tested.
Learn more about TRT here. You can also schedule an appointment with a specialist today to discuss getting your levels tested.