TALKING TESTOSTERONE and MALE ANDROPAUSE

Low testosterone effects 90% of Males over 60 years of age. Classically it starts to effect males between the age of 45-65yr. However, it is now found that since 1970 Testosterone levels are falling earlier. Testosterone levels have not been achieving healthy levels since 1980’s. Currently men in their 50s have a higher testosterone level than men in their 20’s. Currently more than 50% of men between 25-35years have testosterone levels lower than 350ng/dL. Normal testosterone for this age group is 616ng/dl

Some of the triggers can be:

1. Inflammation
2. Obesity
3. Stress
4. Endocrine disruptors or hormone disruptors - these are chemicals that block hormone pathways and messages.
5. Age (this is not justified on its own)
6. Infections
7. Health at birth - genetics and health of pregnancy 

To look endocrine disruptors up see TEDX- the endocrine disruption exchange. Here there are 1428 listed chemical disruptors.

Some disruptors to name a few are:

Most men think of testosterone only in terms of sexual performance. However, there is more to low testosterone than this.

Symptoms of Hypogonadism

Tests

At the clinic, I suggest a saliva test of male hormone profile or 2,4,16-oh oestrogen metabolism, -  this is done through Nutripath

Hair analysis if toxic involvement.

There is more to hypogonadism than low testosterone levels hence testing other hormones is important.

There are three ways to improve testosterone therapeutically. At the clinic we prescribe herbs and vitamins to enhance things as naturally as we can. We are honest enough to refer you to a doctor if a bioidentical hormone is needed. 

1. Natural based therapy - see below and speak to your practitioner
2. Transdermal creams
3. Intramuscular injections

Lifestyle and therapeutic changes like

1. Detoxifying environmental hormone disruptors
2. Exercise!
3. Sex life
4. Diet- more proteins and less refined sugars
5. Nutrients for enhancing male hormones.
6. Assess estrogen metabolism - we can organise this if appropriate with Nutripath

Natural remedies for testosterone improvement

• Tribulus terrestris– used for male fertility helping semen quality, increased sexual desire, orgasmic function, intercourse satisfaction and erectile function

• Eurycoma longifolia (Longjack) – improved semen quality, safe on liver and kidneys. Longjack increases testosterone yet reduces estradiol which for estrogen metabolism for men can be important.

• Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)– prevention pf male infertility and hypogonadism, may increase testosterone.

• Stevia – increases the leydig cells and ejaculation quality

• Echinacea purpurea– improved testicular health

• Maytenus procumbens together with
  Ozoroa paniculosa (bushveld ozoroa or common resin tree)– improves testicular function, increase in semen count and quality. Also these helps together increase  testosterone levels

• Allium tuberosum (garlic chives)– enhances sexual desire and erectile function

• Monsonia angustifolia (cranes bill)– in a rat model it increases testosterone and semen and sexual desire

• Cynomorium songaricum (suo yang) - improved semen count and mobility and semen testosterone in rats. Several plants are claimed to be an aphrodisiac

• Zinc and Folate – positive effect on semen but not on testosterone

• CoQ10 –improves erectile function through blood flow. Helps in libido. It does help testosterone but mainly because it aids in decreasing oxidative stress.

• Vitamin E – improves Testosterone. Improves blood flow to the penis.