What Are the Treatments for Male Menopause?

Male menopause is a hormonal condition associated with aging, diet, sleep deprivation and stress. According to the mayoclinc.com, male menopause is also called andropause, testosterone deficiency or androgen deficiency and is brought on by a decrease in testosterone levels. It can begin as early as age 30 and by age 70 testosterone levels may have diminished by up to 50 percent. Male menopausal symptoms include decreased musculature, increased body fat, sleep disorders, lack of sexual desire, infertility, gynecomastia (male breasts) and depression. Treatments for male menopause can help alleviate some of these symptoms.

Testosterone Replacement (TRT)

• Testosterone-replacement therapy will help you to restore testosterone levels to normal. Andrology.com suggests having a FAT or free available testosterone test to determine if our testosterone levels are low enough to be considered for this treatment. Your doctor will likely do a full workup including rectal, liver, cardiovascular and prostate exam before recommending treatment. Testosterone therapy can be delivered through a testosterone gel or mucoadhesive patch, implant, orally or through intramuscular injection. Dosages and time on medications are dependent on your testosterone-deficiency levels and response to treatment. Because testosterone replacement may carry an increased risk of prostate cancer, it is necessary to have increased prostate checkups while during TRT treatment.

Diet

• Dietary changes may alleviate symptoms of male menopause. A study performed by the Longevity Center in Manchester Connecticut found that men who treated symptoms by including vitamins C and E as well as zinc in their diets help to stimulate sexual drive. In addition, herbs and amino acids like muira puama and l-arginine, respectively, will contribute to an enhanced libido.

Lifestyle

• Testosterone imbalances might be exacerbated by lifestyle habits such as excess alcohol consumption and obesity. Drinking excessively and having excess fat can lead to an increase in the aromatase enzyme, which decreases liver function and can lead to the an excessive conversion of testosterone into estradiol (estrogen). This can lead to an hormonal imbalance due to estrogen overproduction that will cause symptoms of male menopause. To treat menopausal symptoms, eliminate alcohol and excessive saturated fats from your diet. In addition, begin an exercise program that includes strength and cardiovascular training at least three days per week for 30 to 60 minutes per session for weight loss.

Stress and Sleep

• Sleep deprivation may decrease testoserone levels, and conditions such as sleep apnea or insomnia should be addressed in order to help decrease symptoms of male menopause. In addition, stress can lead to lower testosterone levels. Treatment for symptoms should include 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night to avoid sleep-related andropause. In addition, practice activities that will help you to alleviate stress, such as yoga and meditation.