Men's Hormone Health

“When my husband became increasingly tired, moody and uninterested in sex, I emailed Dr. Randolph's website and asked if there was anything that could be done. Dr. Randolph's reply was “Absolutely!” We drove 180 miles to see him at his clinic, though my husband was initially skeptical, but within six weeks of being on bioidentical hormone therapy, he was chasing me around the bedroom again. He was so proud he told his golfing buddy Tom. Now we drive together to see Dr. Randolph once or twice a year for ‘his and her’ bioidentical therapies to keep our hormones in balanced and our sex life in sync!” --Sue (Bob's wife) 54, Georgia

"Dr. Randolph's program helped me once again feel vital, vibrant and 'in the mood'!" - Bob, 56, Georgia

Men are by no means immune to the downsizing of hormone levels with age. In fact the most potent force underlying mental and physical energy in men, the testosterone drive, starts to decline in a man’s mid-forties, or even earlier, depending on lifestyle and stress levels. But unlike the ‘roller coaster’ effect in menopausal women, male symptoms come on more gradually – and most men aren’t sure what’s hit them! But the male menopause is very real, and it has a name: andropause (from the Greek, “andro” for male and “pausis”  for stop) and the retreat of the androgens - testosterone and DHEA - the hormones that are key to male health and vitality. While many medical experts acknowledge andropause as an age-related condition, the general public and many of their physicians still do not recognize the term or see it as a natural consequence of aging. However, men are becoming more aware of bioidentical hormones not only in the media, but in the transformation they see in their wives and girlfriends who use it.  Our practice used to consist almost exclusively of female patients. Now, one in three patients we see are men, many of them recommended by their wives!

Andropause is about aging, and declining hormones go with the territory. In his prime, 95% of male testosterone is made by the testicles, in response to signals from the brain. Over the years, the signal gets weaker and aging testes are less likely to respond. The hormonal downturn typically begins in the late thirties, and by his seventies, a man's blood levels may have dropped by one-third to one-half. If at the same time, levels of the female hormone estrogen are too high relative to lowering testosterone levels, more serious health concerns may emerge, such as increased risks for prostate problems and/or cancer, cardiovascular disease, loss of bone density, a rise in cholesterol and urinary dysfunction.

The first thing a man usually notices as his hormone levels taper off, is a subtle downward shift in strength and energy. He may lose enthusiasm for the things he used to enjoy, the challenge of work, competition and sexual activity. Fatigue may set in more quickly, especially after exercise, and as other symptoms kick in, hormone testing can be used to help detect  and correct existing and/or hidden hormone imbalances.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have funded human-trials that should confirm and extend the medical community's understanding about the role of androgens and the opportunities for supplementation in healthy aging men. The first step towards restoring male hormone balance is to diagnose deficiencies and excesses. This can be done through saliva or blood spot testing. The findings provide a personal hormone profile that matches test results with reported symptoms to guide individualized hormone therapy. Clinical studies have shown that gradually restoring deficient testosterone and DHEA levels with human-identical/bioidentical hormones can generally reverse many men’s age-related complaints. Furthermore, if a man evidences excess estrogen levels, then treatment should include a bioidentical progesterone in physiologic doses tailored to need. The added progesterone serves to eliminate estrogen dominance, thereby decreasing risks for urinary and prostate problems.

When it comes to the male hormone picture, the same principles Dr. John Lee established for achieving balance still apply: 1) give hormones only to those people who need them 2) use only bioidentical (natural, human) hormone rather than synthetics 3) never give hormones alone/unopposed  – use dosages that create normal physiologic levels. There is a definitive link between the decline in male hormones and common age-related concerns in healthy men, but the decline is more precipitous in some men than others, depending on how well we take care of ourselves. If one’s lifestyle is positive – eating, drinking, working and exercising in moderation -- symptoms* are NOT inevitable. We can now help our male patients experience the same positive results we’ve had treating hormonal imbalances in women. With appropriate supplementation of testosterone and DHEA, many of the problems regarded as an inevitable consequence of aging can lessen or disappear.

*such as decreased muscle and bone mass, increased abdominal fat, rising cholesterol, deteriorating heart function, increased lethargy/fatigue and decreased sex drive

Additional Information:

• Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
• Herbal
• Estrogen Dominance
• Bone Health
• Prostate Health
• Fatigue & Low Energy
• Testosterone Deficiency
• Male Andropause
• Headaches & Migraines
• Stress, Hormones & Health Risks
• Erectile Dysfunction
• Depression & Mood Swings