Is There Really A Male Menopause?

By Kevin DiDonato MS, CSCS, CES

Before we begin, we need to clarify something.   With the release of our new product, K20, people have been asking a lot, and I mean a lot of questions on testosterone, and how it affects performance, body composition, and everyday life.  Here is a checklist to go through.

Are you middle-aged?

If yes, proceed on to question 2.  If you are in your 30’s, read on because some research has pinpointed 30 as an age where there might be a decline in your testosterone.  If you are in your 20s, read the article and take notes, because this can happen to any man and at any age.

Have you noticed an increase in body fat and a similar decrease in muscle mass?

If yes, proceed to the next question.

Have you noticed a decrease in sex drive or sexual function?

If yes, proceed to the next question.

Have you noticed more times of depression or a decrease in cognitive function (i.e. decrease in memory, thought processes, and perception)?

If you are nodding your head in agreement, you might be falling victim to the aging process.   Just yesterday, in fact, I walked into a room and totally forgot what I went in for!

As we age, systems in our bodies start to decline.   Sometimes it takes longer to remember something, or when getting up in the morning it takes a little longer to “wake up” the muscles.

Men, sometimes as early as 30, can start to see a decline in testosterone levels.  Mainstream media has labeled this phenomenon “male menopause,” or “andropause.”  The fact is, due to no fault of our own, the body ages.   Our hormone levels start to decline.  It is a natural process which happens as we get older.  To say our bodies are not functioning at optimal levels is untrue.   They are, it is just part of getting old.

Let’s get something out of the way about this stage.  There are two terms used interchangeably when referring to declining testosterone levels: andropause and viropause.   Why are they wrong?  The reason:

Andropause – IS NOT like menopause.  Andropause does not result in a cessation of menses.  So andropause is inaccurate when describing declining testosterone.

Viropause – there is only a decline in testosterone, not a decline in virilization.

So now you might be asking, what should we call it?

Research called this stage ADAM, PADAM, and AAAD.  Let me go over these with you:

ADAM – refers to androgen deficiency in the aging male.

PADAM – refers to partial androgen deficiency in the aging male.

AAAD – refers to aging associated androgen deficiency.

These terms are better suited to describe declining testosterone levels due to aging.

So what does it all mean?

Guys, as we age, testosterone declines.   Not everyone experiences declining testosterone levels.   Some men at the age of 80 still have similar levels as when they were 20, or even 30.  However, it is a pretty safe bet to assume you might experience declining testosterone at some point.

Older men who have serum testosterone levels below the normal range in young men who have androgen deficiency, are considered to have age-associated declines in testosterone.  This can be due to co-morbid illnesses, and medications used to treat them.

With declining testosterone levels, there might also be a decline in fertility.  Even though there is a decline in fertility, the sperm itself is not affected.    At any age, the sperm appear to be as fertile as someone who is 20 years old!  Good news if you want to have more kids!

Aging does have an affect on fertility, but not on the sperms’ ability to fertilize an egg.   Aging decreases the amount of sperm produced and how fast they swim.   The good thing: even though there are less sperm, the quality stays intact.   Besides the natural aging process, there are three reasons why fertility and sperm production has decreased over the years.  They are:

• Increased population – the world is growing!  In 2008, there were 6.64 billion (and more today) people worldwide.

• Exposure to radiation – even low levels of radiation can alter our bodies.

• Population stress – there is physical and psychological stress associated with the increasing number of people.

The age you start to notice it the most: as young as 25 and 40, and beyond.   Research is starting to pinpoint some of the reasons why.

Our testes have specialized cells which are responsible for testosterone production.   When stimulated by luteinizing hormone (LH), these specialized cells, called Leydig cells, produce testosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).  When we age, we see a decline in the number of Leydig cells found in the testes.  Result: decreased free testosterone and testosterone production.

An increase in LH can be a sign of testicular dysfunction.   Primary testicular dysfunction alters the number of Leydig cells.  It can also lead to:

• Impaired testicular perfusion

• Impaired steroid synthesis

• Decrease testosterone output due to Hcg stimulation

Another system responsible for testosterone production is the hypothalamic-pituitary system.  Dysfunctions here can lead to a failure to maintain testosterone levels even when there are plenty of Leydig cells and gonadotrophs available.

Our bodies age.  It is a natural process which can decrease testosterone levels.   There is no set age – some report as young as 20, but definitely more common in people over the age of 40.    There is a decrease in specialized cells which are responsible for testosterone production.  Other systems in the body that raise testosterone levels can also become impaired, making it less likely to keep free testosterone levels high.

Combating age-associated declines in testosterone can be an uphill battle.   Reducing stress levels, having regular sex, and maintaining a good fitness program lead to increased testosterone levels.  Another natural way to increase testosterone levels is by using herbs and plants, which are used by many all over the world, and can help increase testosterone levels.    Even though age plays an important role in testosterone levels, it is never too early (or late) to try to increase your testosterone levels naturally.