If we must age, we all want to grow old gracefully. For men, this means maintaining their health, appearance, sex drive and brain power. And researchers are uncovering what could be a key to more satisfying maturity. It’s called male menopause, or andropause, and it begins just at a time when life not only gets more interesting, but also offers some of its greatest rewards.

Some of the best researchers in the international medical community–including teams at Colombia University Medical Centre and University College London–are pointing to testosterone decline as the core catalyst of andropause. But unlike women, men do not have a clear-cut signpost like a female’s cessation of menstruation to mark this significant transition.

When women reach menopause, their estrogen and other hormone levels drop like the proverbial rock off a cliff. For men, the hormone decline is more like a gentle roll down a hill. As a consequence, symptoms of a drop in androgen (the hormone group that includes testosterone) tend to appear more gradually for men.

Psychological symptoms may include anxiety, irritability, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, poor focus and erratic concentration. Physical symptoms can include loss of energy, less muscle tone, decreased exercise tolerance, bone loss, erectile dysfunction and decreased libido.

A study by the World Health Organization shows that testosterone levels begin a slow decline around age 25 and by age 75 can be down as much as a 50 percent. The dictionary notes that testosterone is "responsible for the development and maintenance of male secondary sex characteristics such as voice depth and facial hair." But that, apparently, is only the beginning. Quality of life and overall wellbeing are at stake as well. So it’s important to stay on top of diagnosing any testosterone deficiency that occurs

Typically a man’s testosterone level is at its highest around 8 a.m. and lowest around 8 p.m. Thus samples should be obtained first thing in the morning prior to a checkup.

Men who wish to take charge of their health and optimize hormone levels will avoid sugars, alcohol and caffeine. They’ll eat more beneficial foods like healthy protein and foods rich in healthy fats like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. They’ll make a habit of supplementing their diet with ginkgo biloba, ginseng, L-dopa and tribulus as well as a whole foods multivitamin. And they’ll pay attention to hygiene while ensuring they get daily restful sleep and regular exercise.

For men diagnosed with testosterone deficiency, testosterone replacement is the treatment of choice. Bio-identical hormones derived from plants are naturally best. The most effective and convenient come in the form of pellets implanted once every four to six months in a minor 15 minute out-patient office procedure. Here a pellet the size of small grain of rice is painlessly inserted into the fat pad of the buttocks where it gradually dissolves, delivering a constant, steady and predictable level of testosterone. The vast majority of men treated with pellets find this method extremely effective.

Always consult with a doctor before trying hormone replacement therapy. It is not recommended for those with known or suspected prostate cancer and breast cancer. But for the majority of maturing men, it may well be a quality of lifesaver.

Source: Dr. Shahnaz Ali is a medical doctor and board certified internist specializing in plant derived natural bio-identical hormone replacement for men and women. She is accepting new patients for primary care and specialty care at Holistic Care Approach in Grand Rapids, MI, and accepts most insurance. For more information call 616-361-9221.