All You Need to Know about Andropause in Alexandria VA

Different hormones affect your physical, emotional, and mental state. For example, serotonin helps to make you feel good. On the other hand, insulin promotes the breaking down of carbohydrates to use sugar as energy. A body that’s undergoing andropause will experience lower testosterone levels, which lead to physical and behavioral effects.

Testosterone is the hormone that typically promotes male characteristics in your body. These include the deepness of your voice, facial and body hair, muscle mass, and sex drive. Having a decrease in your testosterone levels leads to changes in your body that can make you look and feel older. Since these symptoms gradually affect your body, andropause can be challenging to spot.

Men experience a drop in their testosterone levels at the age of 30. Testosterone levels decline by 10% every succeeding decade. Although that won’t always result in andropause, men may still experience the following symptoms due to lower production of testosterone:

– Low libido
– Difficulty in getting erections
– Depression and mood swings
– Loss of muscle mass
– Hot flashes
– Restlessness
– General aches and pains

Contrary to popular belief, the symptoms listed above aren’t always related to getting older. Four to five million men in the US suffer from symptoms of testosterone deficiency. Unfortunately, only around 5% get treatment for it.

If you’re left untreated, you won’t just allow your mental and emotional state to deteriorate. As you suffer from less testosterone, you become more prone to muscle loss, obesity, and erectile dysfunction. You’ll also be at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis and cardiovascular complications.

Andropause is not a condition that men should just accept. Physicians can readily diagnose low testosterone levels with a simple blood test. Through multiple testing procedures, your doctor can specify how severe your condition is and what treatment options are available. You can receive testosterone supplements to bring up your hormone levels through various methods, including gels, injections, pills, and patches.

Although both sexes experience similar changes in their bodies past their 40s and 50s, andropause isn’t entirely the male version of menopause. These conditions have similarities and differences in their effects and treatments.

Both are triggered as men and women reach a certain age. They often follow with a drop in sex-related hormones in the body, making different changes in a person’s physiology. In women, it marks the end of their menstrual periods, and it can cause similar symptoms and health risks with andropause. Unlike menopause, however, andropause has no clear signifier that marks the end of the condition. Additionally, women have a fast drop-off in hormone levels, unlike men who experience a slow decrease in hormone production.

Maintaining a healthy body is one of the best ways to keep your hormone production healthy. Regular exercise increases your muscle and bone mass while having a healthy diet abundant in calcium and other vitamins can help stave off andropause’s harmful effects. The sooner you treat your body well, the longer you can enjoy your youthful energy and physique.

At Assure Wellness Group, we provide our clients with patient-centered services to match their specific needs. We offer medical weight loss programs, cool sculpting, hormone replacement therapy, and more. Meet with our experienced medical professionals to help you be the best version of yourself! Contact us book an appointment online. We serve patients from Alexandria VA, Hybla Valley VA, Springfield VA, Franconia VA and surrounding areas.