Andropause: Myth or Reality
Aging is a reality!
It’s part of our natural process. And it’s curious that many people are still not aware what happens to their bodies when they age, other that they will get white hair.
Looks like we tend to avoid topics like menopause or andropause.
We all know that menopause is real and affects all women at some point in their life (we will speak about this in another article). But what about us guys? Do we also go through andropause? Does it really exist?
It seems that not many guys know what aging can mean to them, what will happen to their bodies, to their testosterone production, and so on…
But let’s start from the beginning: what happens to the male body when we age?
A / At around 40 years old, men will experience a gradual decrease of their testosterone hormone production at a pace of around 1% per year. Contrary to the ladies that have a sudden hormonal imbalance, men typically do not have such sudden changes. So, the first point is that aging-related hormone changes in women and men are different.
B / Signs of low testosterone include:
- mood swings and irritability
- loss of muscle mass and reduced ability to exercise
- fat redistribution, such as developing a large belly or “man boobs”
- a general lack of enthusiasm or energy
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia) or increased tiredness
- poor concentration and short-term memory
- mood swings and irritability
C / The signs and symptoms associated with low testosterone aren’t specific to low testosterone and can be caused by our lifestyle choices: amount of sugar we eat, lack of exercise, no recovery strategies for stress management, poor food choices and lack of sleep
Conclusion:
Men do have changes in hormonal production, but it’s a gradual decline that can happen without being noticed. What is important to notice is that the symptoms men face are not only linked to that decrease but can be caused by the way we live.
Is there anything men can do to minimize the impact of hormonal production?
Yes!
However, you can’t change the decrease in hormonal production, and if you think you might be facing a sudden decrease, we recommend you to speak to your doctor.
But if that’s not the case then you can change the habits that can contribute to the same symptoms, which will allow you to reclaim control of your life and minimize the impact of the ageing process.
Learning the value of sleep, nutrition, movement, emotional management, stress management and recovery can help us guys have more energy, perform better, increase our self-esteem and confidence…and to be happier.
