BodyLogicMD’s Hormone Therapy Blog

Grouchy. Can’t Sleep. Putting on the LBs. When it comes to midlife and hormones, it’s clear that women aren’t the only ones going through “The Change.”

It’s Called Andropause, aka “Male Menopause” and some doctors say that customized bioidentical hormones, mixed with diet and exercise, is the answer.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Andropause.

What is Andropause?

Andropause is the term that is used to describe the period in a man’s life when his hormones, namely testosterone, slowly diminish and other hormones such as estrogen begin to increase. The primary difference between andropause and menopause is that during menopause, women’s hormones shift rapidly and in men the fluctuation is much more gradual.

What are the symptoms of Andropause?

The top 10 signs are irritability, sleep problems, diminished libido, erectile problems, muscle loss, weight gain, memory loss, thinning hair, decreased bone density and depression.

What type of doctors treat Andropause?

 Endocrinology and urology are the main medical specialties that deal with andropause. The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) offers advanced fellowship training in the specialty.

One network of physicians, called BodyLogicMD, was founded in 2003 and specializes exclusively in bioidentical hormone therapy integrated with fitness and nutrition programs for men and women suffering from the effects of hormonal imbalance, menopause and andropause. The group has 37 physicians in seventeen states, all extensively trained by A4M.

Are there any risks associated with testosterone replacement or bioidentical hormones?

A comprehensive review of 72 studies, published in January 2004 in the New England Journal of Medicine, found “no compelling evidence that testosterone replacement therapy increases the incidence of prostate cancer or cardiovascular disease” even though the hormone does contribute to the growth of tumors already developing.

No risks have been reported for bioidentical hormones, which soared in popularity after the Women’s Health Study reported in 2002 that the most popular form of synthetic estrogen might increase the risk of breast cancer and heart attacks, especially in the oldest women studied.

What are patients who are treated saying?

 Rob McKnight, a 53 year old single dad from San Diego, California, said “bioidentical hormones mitigated my symptoms of andropause and I feel better than I have in years.”

McKnight is a patient’s of Dr. Steven Center, a BodyLogicMD physician who whose goal is to build a bridge between anti-aging and preventative medicine, and conventional medicine.

 More information On the Web:

National Institute on Aging at www.nia.nih.gov; click “publications,” then “men’s health,” then “Pills, Patches & Shots: Can Hormones Prevent Aging?”