Andropause, the medical term for male menopause, refers to aging-related hormone changes in men. While some physicians encourage hormone replacement treatment programs for men who want to ward off declining energy levels and sexual and cognitive decline, many experts believe there's not enough evidence that such treatments are safe or effective, or that the risks outweigh the benefits.
Testosterone Hormone Replacement
Testosterone is a naturally produced hormone that helps men maintain muscle mass, bone density, fat distribution, red blood cell production, sex drive and sperm production.
Treatment with synthetic testosterone may reverse the effects of very low levels of testosterone, called hypogonadism, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, the clinic notes it's not clear whether testosterone therapy is of benefit to older healthy men.
Risks of THR
There are several known risks associated with testosterone therapy, according to the Mayo Clinic. The therapy can cause or worsen sleep apnea, lead to overproduction of red blood cells that increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, cause acne or other skin problems, cause or aggravate existing cancer of the prostate gland, lead to enlarged breasts or shrunken testicles and limit sperm production.
The Merck Manual of Health & Aging recommends testosterone therapy only be used after a low testosterone level has been confirmed with a blood test and when there are symptoms of testosterone deficiency. Men should also be screened for prostate cancer before starting testosterone therapy.
Diet and Exercise
The Cleveland Clinic is one of several medical resources that suggest improving diet and exercise may help alleviate male menopause symptoms while improving testosterone levels. A study published in the "Journal of Andrology" found men with low testosterone levels had reduced andropause symptoms after taking part in a supervised diet and exercise program. Those who took testosterone replacement therapy in addition to the diet and exercise program had a slightly higher reduction in their symptoms.
