Andropause - Male Menopause And The Dangers Of Testosterone Therapy

Once a man reaches the age of 30, the testosterone production in his body will decrease by an average of 1 or 2 percent per year. This drop in hormone levels is very much different from the huge drop in hormones that is known as menopause or andropause that happens in women. This slow drop of testosterone levels in men is commonly known as male menopause or andropause. The rate of loss of testosterone can vary quite substantially depending on the man. Many men in their 70s have testosterone levels that are equal to those of an average man in his 30s.

Symptoms of Male Menopause/Andropause

Physical

oLess endurance for physical activity

oGain in weight

oBone deterioration

oLoss or thinning of hair

oSleep disturbance Psychological

oIrritable/moody

oIndecisiveness

oAnxiety and fear

oDepression

oForgetfulness and difficulty concentrating sexual

oDecease in sex drive and enjoyment of sex

oIncreased anxiety and fear about losing sexual potency

oIncreased fantasies about having sex with a new and younger partner

oMore relationship problems and fights over sex, love and intimacy

If you go see a doctor, he's more than likely to suggest Testerone Replacement Therapy as
the cure. Instead of me going through the things that are involved in Testerone Replacement therapy let me just focus on some important information you should know that the Doctor may or may not tell in regards to Testosterone Replacement Therapy.

Nasty side effect of Testosterone Replacement Therapy:

Probably the most dangerous effects of testosterone replacement therapy is the affect on prostate disease. Unknowingly, many men have small prostate cancer that would likely never produce symptoms. Testosterone can actually make prostate cancers grow, so one of the side effects of testosterone replacement therapy would be that it could cause unnoticed prostate cancer to become stronger. Testosterone also is known to worsen a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate called benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Testosterone replacement therapy should only be taken for men who have past blood tests showing that they have low testosterone levels as who have no prostate disease. No matter what the situation is, men taking testosterone need to be checked frequently for prostate cancer. These testings can detect cancer in its early stages, making the problem much more easy to deal with and curable.

For those who have an erectile dysfunction caused by an abnormal low testosterone levels than testosterone replacement therapy may be just the thing for you. Testosterone works by correcting a hormonal deficiency and doesn't directly deal with the hormone levels in the body. The forms in which Testosterone can be taken are: pills, patches, topical creams and/or injections. Some of the side effects include: liver dysfunctions, increased red blood cell counts, increase risk of stroke and the enlargement of the prostate.