Have you ever asked yourself the question “Oh Where, Oh Where has my body gone”? If you are a male approaching midlife, and sometimes younger, you may be facing a problem called andropause. Andropause is a complex hormone syndrome which usually develops in men between the fourth and fifth decades of life. It is associated with low testosterone. Since testosterone is an anabolic hormone, many symptoms arise as testosterone declines.

You may be asking yourself: what happened to my body strength, where is my muscle mass and volume, why do I have lack of libido, and why do I have reduced physical energy and lack of vigor? These are the signs and symptoms of low testosterone. As testosterone declines, the following notable signs and symptoms often occur: there is a loss in muscle volume and strength because there is a reduction in the synthesis of proteins. As a man ages and muscle mass is reduced, there is increased risk of instability, risk of falls, and also risk of fractures. There is also a decrease in bone mass associated with testosterone decline in older men. This is because testosterone directly activates osteoblasts which help build bone. Testosterone also affects our cognitive thinking. Testosterone has been shown to increase blood flow in the brain and enhance concentration and memory as well as cognitive skills. When testosterone is optimized there is a better sense of well-being vitality and vigor and better emotional stability. A decline in testosterone also results in an increase in body fat. This increase in fat particularly occurs around the abdomen, hips, and also in the male breast. Since testosterone is an anabolic hormone, it helps shift the body from a catabolic metabolism to an anabolic metabolism where the body will build muscle and burn fat. Testosterone reduction has been shown to increase levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which results in an increased risk of plaque in the blood vessels and an increased risk of coronary artery disease.

The correct replacement of testosterone will often reduce the aging effects listed above. Regardless of the cause of testosterone reduction, andropause can only be made by accurate laboratory testing of suspected hormonal deficiencies. This must include total testosterone, free testosterone, bioavailable testosterone, as well as levels of sex hormone binding globulin, DHT, and PSA. DHT is known as dihydrotestosterone, it is a metabolite of testosterone by the enzyme five alpha reductase. DHT does not cross the blood brain barrier, but it is important in brain health. Because of this, caution should be exercised when giving testosterone transdermally across the skin because the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT is present in the skin. PSA is known as prostatic specific antigen, and must be measured initially and serially during testosterone replacement to ensure prostatic health and safety.

So if you used to have better muscle volume and strength, less body fat, better libido, and a better sense of overall well-being and emotional vigor, you may want to consider testosterone testing. Optimizing testosterone levels can certainly enhance many aspects of your life. This can be done safely and accurately utilizing proper protocols in both the delivery of testosterone and in testing. What is your biological age? Get tested and find out.