Saturday, February 12, 2011

Could a Man's Midlife Crisis be Hormones?

By Jim Michels PhD


Have aging on your mind? As each January 1st passes we are all reminded of how it physically and psychologically affects the aging process. As each of us reflects upon the previous year, we make resolutions for things we want to accomplish in the next 12 months. Weight loss tends to top the list of New Year resolutions, and illustrates the physical and psychological aspects of entering a new calendar year. Thoughts of health, and at times, vanity enter the minds of many. Low testosterone in men can be one of the challenges relationships will face this year,

A Menopause for Men? It is common knowledge that women have a menopause. Typically around age 40, the shift in hormones in women causes menopause to begin. Only in recent years has significant resources been dedicated to how hormone levels impact the aging process in men. Today it is not yet common knowledge that men also experience a menopause. Officially called andropause, it is triggered by Low T (low testosterone) levels, which start to decline in a male's late twenties and are noticeable by his mid thirties.

Low testosterone in men has a similar effect on the body and the psyche as low estrogen levels do in women. Society has known about the impact of low estrogen levels on women and the official diagnosis of a 'menopause,' for decades, but not until recent years has the term 'male menopause,' or as it is more medically known as, 'andropause' been a word in the American vernacular.

Typically observed in a male's peak earning years, the idea of a midlife crisis (the change) is generally well known. The idea that it may be connected to hormone decline -- a male menopause, also known as andropause is not generally considered. So what is male menopause? Starting in a male's late twenties and noticeable by age 35, testosterone along with thyroid, DHEA and growth hormone levels decline and cause symptoms often associated with a "midlife crisis". Hormone levels will continue to decline for the rest of his life.

For years men have considered the hormone-related changes in their body as normal, and to an extent these declining male hormone levels are normal because no man avoids it. So many things can be tied back to hormones that impact daily life. Consider this, what if you could safely restore your hormone levels to ones similar to your youth? Think about it, testosterone levels impact so many of the things you do and experience on a daily basis. From your overall energy and mood, to the 'age related' weight around your tummy, to decreased desire for intimacy with your partner at night. Just like hormones affect women, hormones affect men.

Male v. Female Menopause: Most people have a lose understanding of the menopause process for women and the symptoms associated with it. This is the result of decade's worth of research and data. Today we now know that every living being, male and female, human or animal, is governed by hormones. A women's menopause is different than a man's because the decrease in hormone levels happen more suddenly and also occur later in life. A male's hormones may decline more gradually over time, but is just as real. Did you know, Testosterone and estrogen levels are inversely proportional? As male testosterone levels decline, estrogen levels tend to increase. A classic example of this is acquired weight in the stomach area, also known as a "beer belly."

Overcoming a Midlife Crisis "the change" with Hormones: Most people can think of at least one example of knowing a man going through a midlife crisis. What is happening is a man fighting the fact that he is getting older. Fighting the symptom of andropause, he tries to get his youth back. While this may cause a temporary high, the actions he takes will be short lived because the hormones and the daily feeling of irritability, depression, fatigue, hot flashes and decreased libido do not go away unless you treat the source, the hormones. Where to Begin: Testing hormone levels such as testosterone, thyroid, DHEA and growth hormone from a male hormone doctor is the first step. If the test shows that you have low hormone levels your doctor can recommend a customized male hormone treatment program that will safely restore your hormones back to healthy levels.




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