What Every Man Needs to Know About Andropause

What makes a man? There are numerous ways to look at this topic. What it means to be a man varies from person to person, and your perspective is influenced by beliefs, societal norms, and upbringing. No matter how you view this topic, if you are a man, you want to look and feel your best. As we age, things change, and one major change for men is andropause.

Andropause begins when men lose male hormones such as testosterone, thyroid, human growth hormone, and DHEA.

While the female equivalent, menopause, comes suddenly, the symptoms of andropause in men are gradual, making it easier to adapt over time. Nevertheless, the consequences can be devastating. One in four men over thirty suffers from testosterone deficiency due to andropause.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is the signature symptom of andropause

When a male cannot sustain an erect penis during sexual intercourse, it can become nerve-wracking and embarrassing. This decline can start as early as thirty years old. A continual decrease in keeping and maintaining erections between the ages of 35 and 45 often becomes more pronounced. Ejaculation weakens, and stamina and endurance also typically wane down.

When sexual thoughts creep up in the mind, nerve signals spark through the spinal cord and into the muscles of the penis, sending blood flow through the arteries and creating pressure. A man free of andropause can have an abundant, steady blood flow streaming to his penis arteries. The more blood flows to the penis, the harder and more prolonged the erection. However, a man under the influence of andropause can have erectile dysfunction no matter what is on his mind. 

Psychological causes can make erectile dysfunction (ED) worse

The feeling of being sexually inadequate or being uncertain as to what to do with the female or male anatomy can induce depression and a lack of self-esteem. 

Thoughts and pessimistic emotions affect mental health and sexual performance as well. For example, being self-conscious about your looks can make you feel ashamed of your appearance.

Men maybe don’t talk about andropause much, thinking it is not a manly thing to do, and are often embarrassed to admit they suffer from ED. As a result, they often fail to seek help. Seeking information and guidance to maintain yourself at peak performance, however, is always in style!

It takes strength to face life’s challenges head-on. The more you understand about your body the better health you may enjoy. Read on to learn more about how you can retain your vitality. First, let’s look at more of the symptoms of andropause.

Other signs of testosterone deficiency include

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Depression
• Increased body fat
• Memory loss
• Hair loss
• Sleep disturbance
• Impaired healing
• Osteoporosis
• Sexual problems

Testosterone deficiency impairs healing 

Testosterone is a necessary androgen for maintaining lean body mass and wound healing. A deficiency leads to the body’s difficulty in healing from injuries.

Osteoporosis

The most common reason for male osteoporosis is testosterone deficiency. While the decline in hormone levels experienced by aging men is not as prominent as that of postmenopausal women, it can be significant enough to impact bone mineral density. Therefore, male osteoporosis evaluation always involves a diagnosis of testosterone deficiency. One in four men over age 50 breaks a bone due to osteoporosis. Approximately two million American men already have osteoporosis. About 12 million more are at risk.

Testosterone replacement therapy 

Testosterone replacement therapy is the most common treatment for men undergoing Andropause. 

This treatment may alleviate the symptoms and help enhance the quality of life in many cases. Your doctor will guide you through deciding if testosterone treatment is appropriate in your situation, as hormone therapy does have risks.

A healthy lifestyle 

As with other medical conditions, poor health habits magnify impotence. Drug use, smoking, drinking, and medication can contribute to the problem. Even a simple over-the-counter decongestant can reduce blood flow to the penis, at least temporarily.

Lifestyle changes such as increased exercise, stress reduction, better sleep, and good nutrition are beneficial in slowing down aging and maintaining your manly functions. 

Strength training boosts the production of male hormones

Research demonstrates significant increases in total testosterone in response to exercise stress while producing substantial decreases in resting cortisol in older men, making strength training the number one sport of choice to stabilize hormonal imbalances and control stress in males suffering from Andropause. 

Unfortunately, men who may have used weight training in their younger years often lean toward activities such as yoga, running, or cycling as they mature in age, avoiding the one sport that is proven to produce testosterone in the body naturally and can assist them in maintaining their manly functions.

Those who understand the benefits of weightlifting often try to be like they used to be, performing the same ego-based exercises they used to do when they were younger, not realizing that time has changed, and so should their routines.

Two common problems for men who exercise on their own or with personal trainers

• They mix and match exercises, like hit and miss, which dilutes the potential strength increase needed to facilitate the production of healthy male hormones such as testosterone.
• They exercise with bad posture, which cuts the oxygen flow to the brain and hinders free blood flow to the penis.

Strength Training Benefits for Andropause:

• Increase in mental quickness
• Improved enthusiasm for daily life
• Stabilize mood behavior
• More energy and a desire to be active
• Increase in sex drive demonstrated by night dreams,

spontaneous erections and an overall increased interest in sex

• Improved muscle tone and reduced fat

Gaining a muscular manly body with strength training makes you feel better and have an overall better body image. In addition, it improves stamina during intercourse. It also increases short and long-term blood flow to your sexual organs.  

Start regaining the bedroom body you dream of having today by incorporating a solid strength training system 2 to 3 times a week.