Andropause Treatment Options Andropause treatment may include lifestyle and dietary changes, herbal supplements or hormone replacement therapy. Men choose different treatments depending on the severity of their symptoms, their overall health and the advice of their doctor. What follows is a brief description of treatment options. Testosterone replacement therapy is an option that must be closely monitored by a physician. Blood tests determine the current testosterone levels and those are compared to "normal" levels. The physician must then ensure that the patient only receives enough of the hormone to bring his levels back up to "normal". Too much testosterone can actually affect the body's natural ability to produce the hormone on its own. Men selecting testosterone replacement therapy as an andropause treatment have reported positive results in as little as three weeks. Andropause Treatments Testosterone can be administered in several ways. Oral testosterone capsules and lozenges are synthetic testosterone and appear to be the least effective. Testosterone injections, also synthetic, appear to be more effective, but may be painful, because the hormone must be injected directly into a muscle. Transdermal patches are worn on the skin and many people find them uncomfortable. A natural testosterone gel which is applied directly to the skin was approved for use by the FDA in 2000 and appears to be very effective as an andropause treatment. Men using the gel report increased energy levels, sex drive, endurance and overall muscle strength. Lifestyle changes can alleviate some of the symptoms associated with andropause. One study of men who had been previously sedentary and began a regular exercise program reported increased energy levels, sex drive and an overall sense of well-being. A good treatment program for andropause will include regular exercise and a healthy diet that comprised of foods that can naturally help boost testosterone levels. There are several herbs on the market which have been reported in clinical studies in Europe to be effective andropause treatments. These include avena sativa, eurycoma longifolia, nettle, saw palmetto, and perhaps most promising of all, tribulus terrestris. The names may seem long and unusual, but most are readily available at health food store and nutrition centers or can be purchased online. When investigating any of the herbal treatments, you will see references to "bio-available" testosterone. The distinction is made between bio-available testosterone levels and overall testosterone levels, because as testosterone production is decreasing with age, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is increasing. SHBG is a protein produced by the liver that attaches itself to testosterone causing it to be unable to affect the body's tissues. So, treatment of andropause symptoms will include an effort to reduce the SHBG in the bloodstream, or at least keep the SHBG levels the same, while increasing the levels of testosterone. The symptoms associated with andropause vary from male to male and some men experience no undesirable symptoms at all. If you are experiencing symptoms like fatigue and low sex drive, see your doctor. Andropause treatment is available. |
