“We must pick out
what is good
for us where
we can find it”
—Picasso

Alternity Healthcare, LLC
639 Park Road, 2nd floor,
West Hartford, CT 06107
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Tel: 860 748 4064 or 860 561 2294 Fax: 860 561 2287

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Men’s Health
Andropause Symptoms

Andropause, or male menopause, is caused by the gradual decline in androgens (male sex hormones).  The most notable hormonal imbalance in aging men is a reduction in free testosterone.  Beginning around age 30, men, on average, lose 2% to 3% of their testosterone per year.  Initially, declines in testosterone cause subtle symptoms: diminished energy levels, irritable mood, reduced sense of well-being, decline in concentration, fewer sexual thoughts and loss of early morning erections.  These are typically attributed to “getting older” or to psychological stressors.  As hormone levels continue to decline, more pronounced symptoms occur, including:

  • Erectile dysfunction 
  • Decreased libido/ sex drive 
  • Weight gain
  • Increased body fat
  • Reduced bone density 
  • Reduced muscle mass and strength
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Memory loss
  • Thinning hair
  • Emotional upheavals
  • Sleep disturbances

To determine if your symptoms may be due to low testosterone, complete the ADAM Questionnaire

Bioidentical Testosterone Therapy

Bioidentical testosterone supplementation can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, prostate and colon cancers, and alleviate most or all of the above symptoms of male hormone imbalance or deficiency. Other hormones, such as DHEA, growth hormone, and thyroid hormone are also very important to assess in andropause.

Recent population studies have demonstrated the significant health implications associated with low testosterone levels in men:

  • Testosterone insufficiency in older men is associated with increased risk of death over the following 20 years.  Reported in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2008
  • Low testosterone concentrations were associated with increased mortality due to cardiovascular disease, cancer and all causes.  Reported in Circulation, The Journal of the American Heart Association, 2007
  • Age associated decline in anabolic hormone levels (testosterone, DHEA and growth hormone) is a strong predictor of mortality in older men.  Reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 2007
  • Low testosterone concentration was associated with diagnosed depression and dementia.  Reported in Endocrinology Practice, the Journal of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, 2007
  • Low testosterone levels were associated with increased mortality in male veterans.  Reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 2006.