One of the male health problems that are often found in males forty years and older is something that is known as Androgen deficiency and this is an anomaly that occurs when there are fewer male hormones also known as testosterone present in the male body which are not good for preserving health. There can be several reasons for this deficiency but is normally due to a malfunctioning of the testes, or a small oval endocrine gland connected to the brain which discharges hormones this can affect growth and metabolism, the third area relates to the hypothalamus. The way by which this problem is resolved is by taking in more testosterone.
There are often spoken about male menopause but this is incorrect, because unlike women who may experience a sudden drop in sex hormone manufacturing this not what happens in males. Males from the age of thirty will experience a very gradual decrease in the production of sex hormones. Sex hormones are androgens and one way to describe their function is to see them as sexual messengers and they communicate primarily with body tissues which can then cause various changes in the body.
Without these androgens or with lesser quantities present we are not quite as male as with them present in sufficient quantities. The normal sexual functioning in males will deteriorate without these hormones. Many other processes in the male body depend upon these hormones like muscle and bone development and the growth of male hair. As we are all probably aware of is that the primary male hormone is testosterone while in females it is estrogen and these are responsible for the functioning of many organs.
Testosterone is necessary for the puberty process, the normal production of sperm, the growth and the functioning of the prostate; it plays a role in vocal cord production in males and stimulates sex drive. The absence of these androgens or any decrease in their production can affect many parts of the male body besides the sex drive issues. The biggest issues are those of muscle and bone production. The fact remains that without sufficient testosterone levels the male body simply cannot function optimally.
The severity of the problem is strongly related to the age at which this reduction started and on how severe it was. Androgen deficiencies can cause hot flushes accompanied by substantial sweating and males with this condition may start to develop breasts. General tiredness may occur as well as depression and then a significant reduction in bone and muscle mass has been recorded accompanied by a weaker bone structure. Another common problem is a weight increase especially around the midsection.
This anomaly can be detected when the health history of a male is examined and several factors are taken into consideration like sexual function and the obvious androgen symptoms that we have already covered. Any medical doctor could conduct a thorough physical examination which might involve looking for abnormal breast development and measuring the testicle size. Besides that a blood test can often shed some light on the situation since it will reveal the level of testosterone present in the body.
The primary cure of androgen deficiency is by means of testosterone replacement primarily through the consumption of supplements. Besides capsules there are various other methods in which treatment could be administered, like gel or cream, a skin patch or if a more severe application are needed it could be injected for a longer working treatment. Regular checkups will be necessary to determine the efficiency of treatment. Although androgen replacements are generally effective there are some known side effects.
Although they may only affect a small number of patients these side effects may include weight gain, urine flow problems among older men, breast development, mild acne, breast development and in some cases mood changes were noted accompanied by increased aggression. However most men report improved health and sex drive subsequent to proper treatment.
Not everything about testosterone replacement is good news. It is now a well established fact that this industry is a two billion dollar a year industry and the estimates are that it will pass the five billion dollar mark in less than five years. Everywhere men turn there are advertisements to make men aware of the benefits of this treatment. And although decreasing testosterone levels in aging men are a fact and this decreases could be addressed by replenishing those depleted levels this is treatment does have some serious side effects.
Some of the side effects include things like more prostate problems increasing chances for cancer, higher blood pressure and the possibilities for all kinds of heart disease are also substantially higher. Some recent studies show a link between testosterone treatment and strokes that prompted the FDA to make a safety announcement. The patients opting for this treatment should be made aware of all the risks that are involved so that he can make an informed decision. Very often when our bodies break down it is because we abuse it and likewise overweight can drastically contribute to low testosterone levels and therefore the healthiest way to turn this problem around would be to lose weight.
A healthy diet accompanied by enough exercise can do a lot more good than unhealthy medication that does as much harm as good. Another important fact to consider is that testosterone replacement is big business but there was never any proper testing done to proof that it is indeed good for treatment of this male problem. Therefore as a patient you may actually have certain conditions that may make testosterone replacement hazardous for your health.
There are other academics that now know that our diet and other factors in our environment also play a role in the decrease of our testosterone levels and they feel that there are a whole lot of natural and safe ways in which to address this issues without using expensive treatments which are now a industry that make a lot of people very rich despite the fact that there are no scientific proof that testosterone replacements are good for men. It might have some benefit but the risk that it carries cancel out all the benefits that are gained.
Therefore before you decide on any testosterone replacement make very sure that you are well informed since this is no wonder cure and it makes no sense to have high testosterone levels at the cost of damaging your heart or some other part of your health. Until there are positive scientific proof that testosterone replacements are indeed the best option available rather stick to more natural solutions like a healthy diet, exercise and try to lose some weight.
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