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Now Celebrating 17 Years In Print and 11 Years Online!
Men's Sexual Health
Andropause and its Causes
by Dr. Raj Rakhra
Generally you're as young as your heart
and brain, which largely depends on how good the circulation is
to these two vital organs.
By the time men are between the ages of 40 and 55, they may experience
a phenomenon called andropause. Unlike women, men do not have
a clear-cut external signpost such as the cessation of menstruation
to mark this transition. Both, however, are distinguished by a
drop in hormone levels. Estrogen in the female, testosterone in
the male. The bodily changes occur very gradually in men and may
be accompanied by changes in attitudes and moods, fatigue, a loss
of energy, sex drive and physical agility. What's more, studies
show that this decline in testosterone can actually put one at
risk of other health problems like heart disease and weak bones.
Unlike menopause, which generally occurs in women during their
mid-forties to mid-fifties, men's "transition" may be
much more gradual and expand over many decades. Attitude, psychological
stress, alcohol, injuries or surgery, medications, obesity and
infections can contribute to its onset.
Although with age, a decline in testosterone levels will occur
in virtually all men, there is no way of predicting who will experience
Andropausal symptoms of sufficient severity to seek medical help.
Neither is it predictable at what age symptoms will occur in a
particular individual. Each man's symptoms may be also different.
Symptoms and Risk of Andropause
Andropause and low testosterone can cause a variety of different
symptoms including: Decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction,
problems with getting an erection, decreased fertility, fatigue
or lack of energy, loss of strength or muscle mass, increased
body fat, osteoporosis (thin bones that break easily), breast
enlargement, decreased hair growth (on face and body), irritability
and mood changes, trouble concentrating, weight gain, depression,
emotional, psychological and behavioral changes, decreased muscle
mass, loss of muscle strength, increased upper and central body
fat.
These symptoms can impact the quality of a man's life and may
expose him to other, longer-term risks of low testosterone. It
is estimated that 30% of men in their 50s will have testosterone
levels low enough to be causing symptoms or putting them at risk.
There are longer-term and silent effects of Andropause that are
harder to track: Increased cardiovascular risk and osteoporosis.
In a healthy individual, bone tissue is constantly being broken
down and rebuilt. In an individual with osteoporosis, more bone
tissue is lost than is regenerated. We've all heard of women suffering
from weaker bones, or osteoporosis, after menopause. In men, testosterone
is thought to play a role in helping to maintain this balance.
Between the ages of 40 and 70 years, male bone density falls by
up to 15 percent. Demonstrating a similar pattern of risk for
osteoporosis as women.
Testosterone is a hormone that has a unique effect on a man's
total body. It is produced in the testes and in the adrenal glands.
It is to males what estrogen is to females. Testosterone helps
to build protein and is essential for normal sexual behavior and
producing erections. It also affects many metabolic activities
such as production of blood cells in the bone marrow, bone formation,
lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, liver function and
prostate gland growth.
The Disorders of the Prostate Gland
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that forms part of the male
reproductive system. The prostate is located in front of the rectum
and just below the bladder, where urine is stored. The prostate
also surrounds the urethra, the canal through which urine passes
out of the body. One of its main roles is to squeeze fluid into
the urethra as sperm move through during sexual climax. This fluid,
which helps make up semen, energizes the sperm and makes the vaginal
canal less acidic. BPH rarely causes symptoms before age 40, but
more than half of men in their sixties and as many as 90 percent
in their seventies and eighties have some symptoms of BPH. As
the prostate enlarges, the layer of tissue surrounding it stops
it from expanding, causing the gland to press against the urethra
like a clamp on a garden hose. The bladder wall becomes thicker
and irritable. The bladder begins to contract even when it contains
small amounts of urine, causing more frequent urination. Eventually,
the bladder weakens and loses the ability to empty itself. Urine
remains in the bladder. The narrowing of the urethra and partial
emptying of the bladder cause many of the problems associated
with BPH.
Why Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH)
Occurs
The cause of BPH is not well understood. As men age, the amount
of active testosterone in the blood decreases, leaving a higher
proportion of estrogen. Studies done with animals have suggested
that BPH may occur because the higher amount of estrogen within
the gland increases the activity of substances that promote cell
growth. Another theory focuses on dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a
substance derived from testosterone in the prostate, which may
help control its growth. Most animals lose their ability to produce
DHT as they age. However, some research has indicated that even
with a drop in the blood's testosterone level, older men continue
to produce and accumulate high levels of DHT in the prostate.
This accumulation of DHT may encourage the growth of cells. Scientists
have also noted that men who do not produce DHT do not develop
BPH.
Symptoms
Many symptoms of BPH stem from obstruction of the urethra and
gradual loss of bladder function, which results in incomplete
emptying of the bladder. The symptoms of BPH vary, but the most
common ones involve changes or problems with urination, such as
a hesitant, interrupted, weak stream, urgency and leaking or dribbling
and more frequent urination, especially at night.
Sometimes a man may not know he has any obstruction until he suddenly
finds himself unable to urinate at all. This condition, called
acute urinary retention, may be triggered by taking over-the-counter
decongestant, cold or allergy medicines. A potential side effect
of this drug may be to prevent the bladder opening from relaxing
and allowing urine to empty. When partial obstruction is present,
urinary retention also can be brought on by alcohol, cold temperatures,
or a long period of immobility. Severe BPH can cause serious problems
over time. Urine retention and strain on the bladder can lead
to urinary tract infections, bladder or kidney damage, bladder
stones, and incontinence. When BPH is found in its earlier stages,
there is a lower risk of developing such complications.
Erectile Dysfunction
Since an erection requires a precise sequence of events, ED can
occur when any of the events is disrupted. The sequence includes
nerve impulses in the brain, spinal column, and area around the
penis, and response in muscles, fibrous tissues, veins, and arteries
in and near the corpora cavernous.
Damage to nerves, arteries, smooth muscles, and fibrous tissues,
often as a result of disease, is the most common cause of ED.
Diseases-such as diabetes, kidney disease, chronic alcoholism,
multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, vascular disease, and neurological
disease-account for about 70 percent of ED cases. Between 35 and
50 percent of men with diabetes experience ED. Lifestyle choices
that contribute to heart disease and vascular problems also raise
the risk of erectile dysfunction. Smoking, being overweight and
avoiding exercise are possible causes of ED. Also, surgery (especially
radical prostate and bladder surgery for cancer) can injure nerves
and arteries near the penis, causing ED. Injury to the penis,
spinal cord, prostate, bladder, and pelvis can lead to ED by harming
nerves, smooth muscles, arteries, and fibrous tissues of the corpora
cavernous. In addition, many common medicines, blood pressure
drugs, antihistamines, antidepressants, tranquilizers, appetite
suppressants, and cimetidine (an ulcer drug)-can produce ED as
a side effect. Experts believe that psychological factors such
as stress, anxiety, guilt, depression, low self-esteem, and fear
of sexual failure cause 10 to 20 percent of ED cases. Men with
a physical cause for ED frequently experience the same sort of
psychological reactions (stress, anxiety, guilt and depression).
Other possible causes are smoking, which affects blood flow in
veins and arteries, and hormonal abnormalities, and not enough
testosterone.
In our clinic we deal with these disorders with an Ayurvedic and
Naturopathic approach and help our patients with impressive results.
The treatment is aimed to provide patients with Psychological,
Emotional, Nutritional and Medical help. As well, we promote healthy
life style changes to improve circulation and physical health.
An Ayurvedic combination of Tribulusterestis, Ashavgandha, Shilajit
and many other herbs are helpful in increasing the production
of testosterone. Herbs like Boswellia, Sawpalmento and many other
products can be used for the above disorders by the naturopathic
physician after proper medical and physical evaluation.
Dr. Rakhra's clinic is
located at 121 - 14 Street North West in Calgary, Alberta.
He may be reached at: 403-270-7033.
See display ad in this issue for more information.
Visit his webiste at: www.aynh.com
A Magazine of People and Possibilities
Now Celebrating 17 Years In Print and 11 Years Online!