Andropause is a name that has been given to a menopause-like condition in aging men. This relates to the slow but steady reduction of the production of the hormones testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHT) in middle-aged men.

Unlike women, middle-aged men do not experience a complete and permanent physiological shutting down of the reproductive system as a normal event. Historically, by the age of 55 the amount of testosterone secreted by the testis is significantly lower than it was at the age of 40 years. By the age of 80 most of the male hormone levels decrease to pre-puberty levels.

There exists a relationship between the testis, testosterone, the brain and the pituitary glands in the male body.   Andropause is simply an endocrine imbalance that can be easily corrected today. All male hormones gradually decline with passing years. Testosterone (from the testis); Human Growth Hormone, from the pituitary; and DHEA and androstenedione, from the adrenal Glands, all begin to drop steadily.

During the last couple of decades this steady drop in hormone production has been accelerated due to estrogens in our environment (herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, Hormones used to produce fatter animals, larger eggs, more milk, etc.) causing estrogen dominance in men. The overall effect is less bio-available testosterone in the body of adult males young and old alike.

The impact of low levels of testosterone are identified symptoms of what they labeled the "male climacteric" including loss of libido and potency, nervousness, depression, impaired memory, the inability to concentrate, fatigue, insomnia, hot flashes, and sweating.

Andropause has been observed in association with Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis.

Many clinicians believe that Andropause is not a valid concept, because men can continue to reproduce into old age. Their reproductive systems do not stop working completely, and therefore they do not exhibit the sudden and dramatic drops in hormone levels characteristic of women undergoing menopause. In some men before the age of 60 there is a complete loss of libido, erectile function, and orgasmic ability.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) along with exercise, diet changes and reduction of stress are all effective in countering the effects of low testosterone.  Symptoms decrease dramatically when patients follow the recommended therapy.
 

Estrogen dominance generally occurs when a body has too much estrogen in relation to progesterone and testosterone. It can cause a host of problems and health conditions such as:

• Prostate problems
• Man boobs
• Impotency
• Male patterned baldness
• Weight gain
• Low libido

Men too, not just women, can suffer from estrogen dominance.  As men age, their estradiol levels gradually rise, whereas their progesterone and testosterone levels gradually fall. The hormone balance changes. These gradual changes lead to reduction in testosterone benefits and eventually to estrogen dominance. That is, his estradiol effects emerge since his testosterone level is not sufficient to block or balance them.  The “beer belly” seen on the aging male is typically a sign of estrogen dominance.

Estrogens from plant estrogens and environmental sources, also known as xenoestrogens, produce hormonal stimuli that can contribute to inappropriate growth of mammary tissue cells.  In men, estrogen dominance stimulates breast cell growth and prostate hypertrophy.  Since the male prostate is the embryonic equivalent of the uterus, it should not be surprising that estrogen dominance is also a major cause of prostate cancer.

We are constantly assaulted by estrogens in our environment from the food we eat and the chemicals we use.  Estrogen mimickers in the form of food/plants (phytoestrogens) and chemicals (xenoestrogens), can mimic the action of estrogen produced in cells and can alter hormonal activity. Exposure to xenoestrogens is a concern for everyone, and those with an estrogen dominance condition should be particularly concerned about avoiding xenoestrogens.

Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring estrogenic compounds that are found in a variety of foods, herbs, spices.  Their chemical structure resembles estrogen. These compounds are generally weak estrogens, in comparison to real estrogen and xenoestrogens, but in a body that is already experiencing too much estrogen, adding more may contribute to the problem.

Some of the strongest phytoestrogen containing substances are soy, the lignans found in flax seed products, red clover, black cohosh, chasteberry, and dong quai. Soy includes soybeans, soy milk, tofu, tempeh, textured vegetable protein, roasted soybeans, soy granules, miso, and edamames.

Key points to reducing estrogen dominance:

• Avoid chemical sources of estrogen (xenoestrogen)
• Avoid food sources of estrogen (phytoestrogens)
• Cleanse the liver
• Exercise
• Reduce stress
• Balance hormones
• Metabolize excess estrogen (DIM, Calcium D-Glucarate)
• Do not heat food in plastic
• Drink out of glass containers, not plastic or Styrofoam

Human chorionic gonadotrophin, or hCG, is a hormone found in the urine of pregnant women. There are many speculated benefits associated with the use of HCG such as weight loss.  However, the medical community does agree that there are some benefits to hCG in the treatment of certain conditions, including infertility and various problems related to hormones.

HCG is a water soluble hormone produced by the placenta. It is found in the urine of pregnant women, primarily during the first trimester of pregnancy. It is part of a class of glycoprotein hormones, which include FSH (follicle stimulating hormones), TSH (thyroid stimulating hormones) and LH (luteinizing hormones). It contains both alpha and beta amino acids.

HCG can help to increase an infertile woman's chances of becoming pregnant, and it can help women suffering from irregular menstrual cycles. It also aids in the production of testosterone and sperm. Finally, male children who are born with cryptorchidism (an abnormality in the testes present at birth) are aided by hCG.

More than 50 years ago Dr. A. T. W. Simeons became interested in how a pregnant woman could lose weight during pregnancy and still deliver a healthy baby. While researching this occurrence he found that the hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) to be responsible. This hormone is produced by the body in abundance during pregnancy, causing the mothers adipose fat to liquefy in levels more than sufficient to supply her bloodstream with nutrition around the clock to ensure the proper development of her unborn child.

Taking his research further, Dr Simeons studied the effects of hCG on weight loss. During his studies, it was noticed that when small doses of hCG were administered, without a diet and without weight loss, changes in body measurements occurred, hips and waist became smaller. At first it was thought that this was due to redistribution of water. Later it was established that it was adipose tissue fat that was on the move.

One pound of body fat stores upwards of 2000 calories. Once body fat is made fluid, nutrition can be released to the bloodstream, reducing hunger, and waste flushed from the system. Calories provided on an even consistent level improves metabolism. With diet, women were shown to lose weight at a rate of ½ to ¾ pounds per day and men at a rate of ½ to 1½ pounds per day.

Due to lack of proven results and the government action, hCG injections lost popularity until they were revived in 2007 by Kevin Trudeau claiming that hCG injections were the cure to obesity and that the American Medical Association, FDA and other medical groups were part of a conspiracy to suppress the truth.

While shedding extra pounds helps to improve the overall health of a person on the hCG diet, additional benefits noted with hCG injections are normalized cholesterol levels, normalized thyroid gland and to balanced hormones while rebuilding the adrenal glands.

People that have arthritis, osteo arthritis, joint problems, cartilages damage or cervical problems experience a relief of pain and an overall improvement to the quality of life.
 

Low Testosterone/Hypogonadism

Male hypogonadism is defined as the failure of the testes to produce testosterone, sperm, or both. The disorder is exceedingly common.  Testosterone is the hormone that plays a key role in masculine growth and development during puberty.

Some males may be born with low testosterone, or it can develop later in life from injury or infection. The effects, and what you can do about them, depend on the cause and at what point in your life low testosterone occurs. Some types of male hypogonadism can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy.

In adult males, low testosterone may alter certain masculine physical characteristics and impair normal reproductive function. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Erectile dysfunction
• Infertility
• Decrease in beard and body hair growth
• Decrease in muscle mass
• Development of breast tissue (gynecomastia)
• Loss of bone mass (osteoporosis)

Hypogonadism can also cause mental and emotional changes. As testosterone decreases, some men may experience symptoms similar to those of menopause in women.

There are two basic types of hypogonadism:

Primary hypogonadism, also known as primary testicular failure, originates from a problem in the testicles.  Common causes of primary hypogonadism include:

• Klinefelter Syndrome – Congenital abnormality of the sex chromosomes
• Undescended Testicles
• Mumps
• Elevated Iron Levels
• Injury to the Testicles
• Cancer Treatment

Secondary hypogonadism indicates a problem in the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland, parts of the brain that signal the testicles to produce testosterone. The hypothalamus produces gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which signals the pituitary gland to make follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone. Luteinizing hormone then signals the testes to produce testosterone.  A number of conditions can cause secondary hypogonadism, including:

• Abnormal Hypothalamus Development
• Pituitary Disorder
• Inflammatory Disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Medications
• Obesity
• Normal Aging

There are several ways to effectively treat hypogonadism.  Enhancing the body’s ability to make its own testosterone is the most favorable.  This can be done with Nutraceutical supplements in combination with hCG.   Another option is to supplement with testosterone replacement (TRT) that your body would produce normally. It is critical to combine TRT with appropriate diet, exercise, lifestyle and stress management.

The alternative treatment of hCG for hypogonadism can stimulate testicular growth and does not interfere with fertility as TRT does.  If utilizing TRT, then at a later time when fertility is desired, it may be induced with either pulsatile luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) or (more commonly) with a schedule of injections of hCG and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).