Andropause - Fact or Fiction

One of the biggest controversies gripping today's medical world is the subject of andropause. Doctors are taking sides with one school of thought or another and furiously debate at conventions and in papers if this male version of the menopause exists, what symptoms should be taken into account during the diagnose process and what treatments are effective. There is no consensus at the moment and the search still goes on for an explanation that fits all the facts.

The determinants of "aging" and of "life expectancy" extend from genetic and molecular determinants to the increasingly powerful forces of environmental, economical, technological and cultural globalization.

Since the 1940's, the term andropause has been used to describe a condition that was considered to be similar to the female menopause. The blame for triggering this condition was laid on falling levels of the testosterone hormone from around the age of 45 onwards.

Andropause was also considered to be the source of many problems faced by men past their prime, such as weight gain, heart disorders, mood swings, depression and plummeting libido.

Our results show that testosterone has a key role in the central and peripheral modulation of erectile function... (Doctor Andrea Garolla, University of Padua, Italy)

However, the condition is highly debated, with doctors doubting it even exists. The main hurdle in agreeing upon a definition of andropause is the fact that there is no clear physical symptom that could be used to diagnose the condition. While the end of menstruation is the classic tell-tale for menopause, men display no such universal symptom that could clue doctors to what's going on. That's why the medical world is still polarized between the two camps that argue back and forth over this issue.

Still, the medical controversy has not stopped men from looking for a way to stop or reverse the hormonal changes brought by andropause. Nathan Church, Product Manager with Lativio, says:

"Although, I am not a medical doctor, I know that increasingly men have bought our products as a result of a series of problems. These problems include loss of libido and reduced ability of on demand erections. I can only speak from my experience with our customers that their symptoms do point to a condition described as Andropause."

As we can see from this quote, men are not going to sit idle until experts agree that there is a problem. The natural products market has a wide range of products aimed at bringing back some the youthful feeling to aging men. While taking the problem into one's hands involves a certain amount of risk, it seems that many men are perfectly ready to take that risk, especially since the prize is the spark of life.