Man and andropause

Man and Andropause

What is it?

In recent years he began using the term andropause to capture the changes that begin to affect the man starting from 50 years.

Andropause is a syndrome which means it is a very different set of symptoms. Really it is considered a part of male development and disease.

Only recently begun to give the importance they deserve the physiological changes associated with andropause studies and in depth were initiated on the subject.

Andropause is not as abrupt as menopause. It is a slow and gradual process that has to do with the gradual decline in the level of androgens (male sex hormones), which affects all organic processes. Andropause is also known as Adam's syndrome (androgen deficiency of the aging male - androgen deficiency in older men).

In contrast to the situation where the menopause in women marks the end of the fertile period the fertility in men persists despite age.

After 60 detected significant decrease in testosterone levels in the blood. Other androgenic hormones also decrease, but the best indicator of andropause testosterone appears to be.

In late adolescence, boys are usually with higher levels of testosterone between 800 and 1,200 nanograms per deciliter (ng / dl) of blood.

These levels are maintained for about 10 to 20 years, after which it will begin to decline at a rate of about 1% per year for the absolute level of testosterone and 1.2% per annum for the level of free testosterone (the term that explained above), reaching the age between 80-85 years mean testosterone levels by about 60% the levels observed 25 years of age.

However, these levels are so different between individuals that can not be taken more than a statistical average. Therefore, some men 80 years may have testosterone levels that are found within the normal range for young adults.

The absolute level of free testosterone in the blood of a man is the potential for the hormone to act in his body.

Most of testosterone in the blood is linked with protein and only 2% is available for absorption by body cells (free testosterone).

The most important protein that binds to testosterone binding agent called globulin sex hormone (Fri Hormone Binding Globulin, or SHBG), a protein whose levels increase with age.

This more SHBG in the blood testosterone less available to act on their cells. Factors influencing testosterone levels in the mature adult are many.

While some authors refer to age as the most important factor in hormonal changes, there is also evidence that the anthropometric measurements (weight, length, skin) and lifestyle play a role in these changes. Stress and diseases accelerate the decline of the function of Leydig cells (testosterone production).