Aging Male Syndrome

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Men go through aging male syndrome (AMS) between the ages of 35 and 65 when their hormone levels (especially testosterone) decline. Testosterone is a hormone that helps maintain sex drive, sperm production, pubic and body hair, muscle, and bone. The decline of testosterone is normal in healthy males as they age. Unlike women who lose their fertility (ability to get pregnant) when they reach menopause, men do not lose their fertility. But the hormone change may cause other symptoms. All men have different experiences — some men's hormone levels go down more than others, and some men have more symptoms than others.

A decline in testosterone can affect a man's body. AMS has many signs:

Feeling fat/weight gain
Problems sleeping
Less interest in sex
Feeling irritable or angry
Erection problems
Nervousness
Problems with memory and concentration
Muscle loss
Increased urination
Depression
Loss of energy
Bone and hair loss

If you're having these symptoms of low testosterone, talk to your doctor. You can get your testosterone level tested with a simple blood test. Get the test in the morning, when the testes release more testosterone. Because a normal level of testosterone is different for each man, it may be hard to know if you have low testosterone — it helps if you had a testosterone test earlier in your life, so you'll be able to see any change. If you do have low testosterone, think about visiting a specialist, such as an endocrinologist or urologist, who can work with you to treat this problem.

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Additional Resources

Publications

Aging Changes in the Male Reproductive System - This on-line publication contains information regarding the symptoms and effects of aging on men's reproductive systems (andropause). The article provides examples of common problems that are exhibited and methods of preventing andropause.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/004017.htm
Low Testosterone - This Internet site provides a tutorial and fact sheet for individuals wanting to learn more about low testosterone. It is an interactive site that explains the causes and treatment of low testosterone and its relationship to aging male syndrome.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/lowtestosterone/htm/index.htm
Osteoporosis in Men - After age 50, six percent of all men will suffer a hip fracture as a result of osteoporosis. Despite these compelling figures, a majority of American men view osteoporosis solely as a "woman's disease." This fact sheet discusses the issue of osteoporosis in men, and explains the known causes, how osteoporosis is diagnosed in men, what treatments are available, and how it can be prevented.
http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/men.asp
Low Testosterone and Men's Health/La testosterona baja y la salud masculina (Copyright © Hormone Foundation) - This bilingual fact sheet provides information about low testosterone. It provides information on what the role of testosterone is in men's health, causes of low testosterone, how it is diagnosed and the available treatment for this condition.
http://www.hormone.org/Resources/Reproduction/upload/bilingual_Testosterone.pdf
Male Menopause (Copyright © Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - This fact sheet describes what male menopause is, how it is diagnosed, and how it is treated.
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3000/3001.asp?index=10094
Male menopause: Myth or reality? (Copyright © MFMER) - Sometimes called male menopause, aging-related hormone changes are very different in men than in women. Learn about symptoms and treatment by reading this publication.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/male-menopause/MC00058
Patient Guide to Androgen Deficiency Syndromes in Adult Men (Copyright © Hormone Foundation) - This report contains information on testosterone, its production, treatments for low testosterone, symptoms, and data from clinical trials.
http://www.hormone.org/Resources/Patient_Guides/upload/Androgens_and_Men_Patient_Guide.pdf...
Testosterone (Copyright © AACC) - This on-line publication contains information about the testosterone lab test. It explains how it is used, when it is ordered, and what the results mean.
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/testosterone/test.html
What Men Should Know About Low Testosterone (Copyright © Men's Health Network) - This brochure contains information about low testosterone, the symptoms, and a quiz that you may take to see if you are at risk for low testosterone.
http://www.menshealthnetwork.org/timeout/lowtestosterone.htm

Organizations

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