What is Andropause?

Andropause is the medical term for when men start to experience decreased levels of hormones that are necessary for healthy sex life. These changes can also affect a man’s physical appearance, causing some signs of aging to appear on his face and body.

Andropause usually begins in men between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can occur at any age. The term was first coined in the 1950s after researchers noticed that many older men had lower testosterone levels and other hormones than younger men.

In the next segment, we will discuss the factors or causes that increase the risk of developing andropause.

FOUR Possible Causes of Andropause

1.  Stress

The most common cause of andropause is stress. Stress can be caused by many things, such as work, family, relationships, or money issues. Stressful situations can lead to increased production of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone that increases the amount of sugar in your bloodstream and can damage your testosterone levels.

It is highly advisable to tame stress through lifestyle tweaks such as daily exercise, meditation, and having a healthy diet rather than becoming a chronic user of over-the-counter pills. Doing so will improve your quality of life.

2. Lack of Sleep

Lack of sleep is another factor that causes the loss of muscle and strength. People not sleeping well tend to lose weight because their metabolism slows down. This means they will not burn calories efficiently and will store fat instead. Further, this can also increase body fat percentage, which can cause Andropause symptoms, including weight gain and increased belly fat.

If you feel you are suffering from a lack of sleep, talk to your doctor about getting some help, as it overall affects men’s health. You may need to get treated for anxiety or depression as well.

3. Drinking Too Much Alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant and can decrease testosterone levels. In addition, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to liver damage, further reducing testosterone production.

In addition to decreasing testosterone, drinking too much alcohol increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. Men who drink FIVE or more drinks per week have been found to have lower sperm counts than men who don’t drink at all.

4. Late-Onset Hypogonadism

There are many causes of andropause, but one of the most prominent ones is late-onset hypogonadism. This condition occurs when testosterone production by the testicles or adrenal glands is significantly reduced.

The primary symptom of late-onset hypogonadism is decreased libido. However, it’s not just that you lose interest in sex; if you’re a man with this condition, you may experience erectile dysfunction as well. In addition to these symptoms, men with late-onset hypogonadism often experience other health conditions associated with low testosterone levels. These conditions include osteoporosis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and loss of muscle mass due to fat deposition in the abdomen (visceral adipose tissue).

One of the most important things to remember about late-onset hypogonadism is that it’s not something you’ll develop overnight! If you were diagnosed with this condition earlier in life — say shortly after turning 40 — your symptoms may have started in your 20s or early 30s.

In Closing

The decline in testosterone levels can be attributed primarily to poor lifestyle choices. While some studies have shown that the decrease in hormone levels is unavoidable as middle-aged men age, specific lifestyle improvements may delay or mitigate the beginnings of andropause. These include proper diet, exercise, and stress management practices – all of which can help boost testosterone levels in men going into middle age and beyond.