June 2009 Men’s Health Male Menopause

Did you know that men also go through male menopause? 

The hormone changes associated with male andropause can begin as early as 30 and continue to decline thereafter. Testosterone in particular has been shown to reduce by 2-3 % annually after age 30.  Traditionally , age-related male hormone changes were not considered problematic because fertility in men persists until as advanced age.  This is in contrast to women who undergo ovarian function reduction and fertility ceases with menopause.

What are the symptoms related to Male Menopause?

We now however see progressive age-related changes including: 

·         Muscle mass & strength reduction

·         Vigour & energy reduction

·         Mental capacity reduction

·         Libido reduction

·         Insomnia

·         Nervousness & Depression

·         Hair Loss

·         Prostate Concerns

·         Increased Injuries: Pain & Inflammation

These changes maybe related to general decline of hormones or imbalances of hormones.

What are the Health Connections related to this trend?

Not only do we need to consider male hormones but also the organs that produce other hormones that are related.

The most significant organs include:

·         The testes-responsible for production of testosterone

·         The liver- as hormones are broken down and re-circulated through this organ

·         The adrenal gland- responsible for the production of epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol ( when elevated for long periods of time makes it difficult to loose weight), DHEA ( breaks down into estrogen and testosterone) and progesterone

·         The thyroid-responsible for your rate of metabolism

Anatomy of Stress- shows the complete relationship of the organs and the balance in the nervous system, the adrenal gland, the thyroid and their  relationship to hormones. The pathway from beginning to end  is shown in the Health Wellness Spectrum( HWS)©: ( For more details of the HWS © see the April 2008 Newsletter Allergies, Asthma and Eczema)

How can I be tested for my levels of male hormones?

At Optihealth we use salivary hormone testing to evaluate the following androgen hormones:

·         DHEA

·         Progesterone

·         Androstenedione

·         Testosterone

·         DHT

·         Estrone

*See Addendum 1 for Male Hormone Pathways

*See Addendum 2 for Details of these hormones?

What are the benefits of balancing Male Hormones?

• Increase of fitness and sense of well-being
• Decrease of body fat and increase in lean body mass
• Resolution of hormone dependent libido problems
• Prevention of hair thinning
• Increase in hematocrit and RBC counts
• Mitigation of osteoporosis and stimulation of bone formation
• Decrease in total cholesterol, increase HDL

Note: It is important to monitor male hormonal support therapy as there may be risk for those with prostate concerns, liver cancer and atherosclerosis.

Top 5 Male Treatment Options

1.       Reduce acidity in the body ( Acidosis) to assist reduction of chronic degerative disease

*See Addendum 3 For Chart of Acidic Versus Alkaline Foods

2.       Detoxification & Liver Support  To balance the  hormones that you do have present and optimize their ratio ie Milk Thistle, Dandilion, Antioxidants

3.       EFAs- precursors to hormones and support cardiovascular health

4.       Phytotestosterone Botanicals- Damiana, Sasparilla, Tribulus

5.       Organ Support to Adrenals and Thyroid

Because each man is different it is important to have your individual assessment done. It is a balance and relative ratios of hormones to each other that is also vital versus just the hormone itself.

What are the symptoms of Acidosis?

·         Excess Weight Gain- acid is stored in fat cells and the body produces more as acid in the body increases

·         Excess Weight Loss-acidic environments  enhance yeast and fungus to feed on our nutrients and thus reduce the absorption of what we eat by up to 50%

·         Pain & Inflammation-calcium ions look for acid to form calcium carbonate in the body which when the body is acidic can’t be moved out of the body properly.  In this state the body deposits excess in the joints leading to increased pain.

·         Osteoporosis-is related to acidosis.  As the body becomes more acidic , our body tries to remain healthy to protect us against heart attacks, illness, strokes or even cancer.  In doing so it takes calcium from our teeth, bones and tissues, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.

·         Low Energy - in an acidic environment our biological terrain’s oxygen level drops , leaving us fatigued.  This also allows parasites, fungus, bacteria, mold and viral infections to flourish.

·         Cardiovascular Concerns-acidity allows micro-organisms to attach to the vessel walls which creates inflammation  and plaque formation

·         Allergies-the toxins produced within an acidic, oxygen deprived environment as well as the absorption of undigested proteins is major cause of allergy conditions. When the digestive system is weakened, a wide range of allergic reactions can occur, e.g. food allergies, and the overall susceptibility to allergens is increased.

·         Skin Conditions- when the body is not digesting effectively the body tries to eliminate through the skin.

·         Colds, Bronchitis, Infections, Headaches-only when our pH level is fairly balanced, the binding of oxygen to the hemoglobin protein of our red blood cells in the lungs operates. If the pH is too acidic, microbes in our respiratory systems can grow much more easily, and in that way cause bronchitis, pneumonia and sinusitis, and invade our cell system.

As one can see many of the symptoms of acidosis are similar to those of hormonal imbalance and aging.  Thus balancing your ph is vital to Longevity Living Longer and Stronger!

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