Aging and Testosterone
How Aging Affects Testosterone
June 10-17 is Men’s Health Week. We encourage you to read and share the Daily Tips this week with the men in your life.
Just as estrogen production declines in women's bodies, testosterone production slows down in men as they age. Although men have gradually declining testosterone levels during later adulthood, the decreases do not bring with them the physical side effects that many women experience during menopause. Though the idea of "man"opause (the clinical term is "andropause") seems logical, there's little evidence to back it up. Some men do report sexual dysfunction or lack of desire, fatigue and weakness as they age, but most of these physical complaints are the result of lifestyle factors like diet, stress and inactivity.
Commercial testosterone supplements may promise feelings of more energy, strength and virility - but rarely deliver. In fact, healthy middle-aged men taking this hormone may experience a placebo effect at best and an increased risk of prostate problems at worst. I recommend testosterone treatment only if physician-directed tests indicate that your body does not produce enough on its own; then its effects can be quite dramatic.
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Old Guys Rule
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