ALL ABOUT TESTOSTERONE & MALE HEALTH

When the testosterone level decreases

Testosterone deficiency is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The deficit in the levels of sex hormones affects between 6% and 12% of men 40 to 69 years, resulting in a decline, mainly testosterone. Furthermore, recent studies show that there is an association between low testosterone levels and metabolic syndrome factors presented jointly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The experts, gathered for the 13th National Congress of Andrology, held in Cordoba, they agree that the main treatment for testosterone deficiency syndrome, today is the replacement therapy.

The testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) decreased sexual desire and the quality of erections and also adversely affects quality of life of those affected. This is one of the conclusions that many experts have recently come together at the 13th National Congress of Andrology in London. Moreover, this deficit usually occurs in one third of the entire male population of type 2 diabetes affected. For this reason, experts call for control of testosterone levels in men older than 45 years, especially those who have symptoms related to erectile dysfunction and decreased libido, abdominal obesity, loss of muscle mass, strength insulin, fatigue and depression.

Too many associations: The event has highlighted the relationship between low testosterone levels (hypogonadism) with the metabolic syndrome. It is not a single disorder but are presented jointly diabetes, dyslipidemia (disruption of lipid profile), hypertension, insulin resistance and obesity. In practice, when a patient has at least three of these factors, alone with enzymes, and can diagnose the existence of the syndrome, which causes an increased risk of heart attack or coronary artery disease, whose treatment is based on prevention and healthy living habits. It is estimated to affect more than 20% of the Europeans, for example.

There is only replacement therapy to treat hypogonadism, which involves administering a certain amount of testosterone. Experts say that although in the quality of life of patients, alteration in sexual relations were not as concerned as the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and the high rate of morbidity and mortality. A recent study revealed that the risk of mortality in patients with the SDT was 68% higher than in men with normal testosterone levels. Experts insist on differentiating the testosterone deficiency of erectile dysfunction, although they share some of the signs and the decrease in the hormone can cause dysfunction. To do this, they encourage men to go to the urologist or andrologist consultation to be diagnosed correctly. They further believe that the numbers of affected SDT may be higher on record as many of the symptoms are considered normal consequences of age and not as a problem that can and should be treated to prevent other diseases.

Replacement therapy: Currently, there is only replacement therapy to treat hypogonadism, which involves administering a certain amount of testosterone. The therapy is recommended for men with symptoms of hypogonadism and plasma levels of this hormone between 12 nmol / l and 8 nmol / l. In patients with levels below 8 nmol / l, treatment is absolutely necessary. Replacement therapy is intended to implement the correct physiological levels of hormone to improve symptoms and prevent problems. The experts recommend that treatment is done under medical supervision, since high levels of testosterone can cause considerable adverse effects of gravity, such as hemoglobin swell with consequent lung problems and strokes. The common forms of testosterone administration are by intramuscular injections, subcutaneous implants or capsules. But now a new option: the topical administration, ie through the skin in gel form. Applying a thin layer of gel on the skin dry and intact each day, the hormone is absorbed gradually, 24 hours, thus maintaining normal blood levels achieved.

Hypogonadism: Hypogonadism is when the sex glands have a poor or even no production of hormones. In men the sex glands or gonads are the testes and in women, the ovaries. Hypogonadism can have two causes. Primary gonads do not work properly due to genetic or developmental abnormalities, side effects of surgery or radiation processes, diseases affecting the liver or kidneys and immune disorders, among others. When the cause of hypogonadism is associated with brain centers controllers of the sex glands, pituitary and hypothalamus, is known as central hypogonadism. Tumors such as craniopharyngioma in children and adults prolactinoma, head trauma, genetic disorders, nutritional deficiency, excess iron (hemochromatosis) are some of the causes of central hypogonadism. Anorexia nervosa also when it comes to extreme limits of starvation may have central hypothyroidism. In women, hypogonadism in childhood results in amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), lack of breast development and short stature. If hypogonadism occurs after puberty, the usual symptoms are loss of menstruation, low libido, hot flashes and loss of body hair. In men, hypogonadism in childhood results in lack of muscle development and growth problems. A decrease in libido, sexual dysfunction, less energy, more irritability, diminished cognitive function, changes in sleep patterns and decreased lean body mass and increased visceral fat, decreased body hair and beard, and enlarged the breasts are signs and symptoms package that characterize adult hypogonadism.

Menopause, andropause and testosterone

Life expectancy has increased markedly in recent years. In the year 1900 was 47 years, which means that at that time many of our grandmothers and great-grandparents did not experience menopause and andropause. Advances in medicine and changes in lifestyle have made progress and are doing, making great strides in the treatment of diseases, but especially in prevention, so that today the average life expectancy is above the 70.
Women and Menopause. Menopause is a natural process in which the ovaries reduce their activity and thus produce less sex hormones. In general, from the age of 40 is irregular menstruation until menopause, which is when it stops completely and the cycle of fertility comes to an end. Menopause begins after the last menstruation. However, it accepts that he must spend an entire year without menstrual periods before a woman can be sure that their ovaries no longer ovulate, which is no longer fertile. Some women experience an abrupt cessation of their periods, although it is not usual. Most go through a gradual transition period that includes the gradual decrease in premenopause cycle, leaving at menopause and final adjustment of the organism in postmenopause.

Menopause is a natural stage of life and does not mean any disease. In the past he was not given importance to this process was considered irrelevant and transient. Today has shown that the hormonal changes of menopause (stage ranging from 40 to 50 years, which includes the menopause), are directly related to physical changes, emotional and sexual, so there is now with the foundation for improving such discomfort, which in turn seeks a general welfare state, a normal activity and better integration of women both in the family and society. There are significant variations in relation to the symptoms that accompany this life cycle of some women to others. However, 50% of women physically or mentally note slight changes, 25% do not feel almost nothing, and the remaining 25% suffer severe symptoms. As the ovaries decrease the ability to produce estrogens (female sex hormones) arises a hormonal imbalance that causes many symptoms (Table 1), which can last for months or even years. Most of them can be treated medically, however, there is evidence that only one third of women who experience these symptoms go to the gynecology clinic.

To alleviate physical or psychological consequences that menopause leads to many women from the gynecology clinic, they prescribed hormone treatment with estrogen (Hormone Replacement Therapy-HRT), although this treatment does not apply to all women. Moreover, epidemiological studies in Asian populations as a result offer that diets regularly include phytoestrogen-rich foods such as soy and dairy products (soy milk, tofu or bean curd, or shoyu sauce soy ...) - can play a beneficial role. In connection with the symptoms, there was evidence that Eastern women who were at this stage of life had a lower incidence of hot flushes, joint pains and muscle irritability, mood swings, weight gain, etc.. Thus, the results obtained from these studies suggest that populations with a habitual intake of soy in their diet enjoy a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and fractures due to osteoporosis. The positive effects are due to the presence in soybeans of compounds with estrogenic activity, ie with similar action to estrogen for women. This translates into positive actions of estrogen on certain type organs and tissues as the vascular wall, bone, lower urogenital tract (vagina) and the nervous system. The estrogenic action of soy compounds in the nervous system would be responsible for the significant decline in hot flashes.

Male and andropause: For several years, began using the term andropause, to capture the changes that begin to affect the man to 50 years. Andropause is a syndrome and that means that it is a very different set of symptoms. Actually be considered a part of male development and not a disease. Only recently has begun to give due importance to the physiological changes associated with andropause and in-depth studies have been undertaken on the subject. Andropause is not as abrupt as menopause. It is a slow and gradual process that has to do with the progressive reduction in levels of androgens (male sex hormones), which affects all organic processes. Andropause is also known as Adam syndrome (Androgen Deficiency Aging Male - Androgen Deficiency in Aging Men). In contrast to the situation where women in menopause marks the end of the fertile period, fertility in men persists despite age.

From the age of 60 detected significant decreases in the level of testosterone in the blood. Other androgenic hormones also decrease, but the best indicator of andropause appears to be testosterone. In late adolescence, kids are usually with higher testosterone levels-between 800 and 1,200 nanograms per deciliter (ng / dl) of blood. These levels are maintained for about 10 or 20 years, after which they begin to decline at a rate of about 1% per year for the absolute level of testosterone and 1.2% per year for the level of free testosterone (which term explained below), reaching age 80-85 years average levels of testosterone of approximately 60% of the levels recorded in the 25 years of age. However, these levels are so different between individuals who can not take more than a statistical average. Therefore, some men of 80 years old may have testosterone levels that are found within the normal range for young adults.

Testosterone Hormonal factors affect about 10% of women

Social conventions and aesthetic ideal of beauty claim as the absence of hair on women. However, 9% of European citizens, according to some studios, the adequacy of this model is not straightforward because they suffer from hirsutism. It is not easy to define this problem, but accepted that one can speak of hirsutism when the terminal hair, ie hair thicker, darker and longer, grows in places where women are not routinely: lips, chin, chest , back or abdomen. In cases of hirsutism is a "masculinization" of the distribution of terminal hair. It is therefore a problem for women and is not a specific disease but a sign is often the manifestation of other disorders. However, in most cases creates an aesthetic problem that many women live with a load more or less intense anxiety and worry.

Terminal hair and hair. Human skin is covered, except palms and soles of the feet, with hair follicles that produce two types of hair: the hair-soft, short and slightly pigmented, and terminal-hair thicker, pigmented and long- . The transformation of terminal hair hair depends on hormonal factors, in particular androgens, male hormones. A third of women of childbearing age have hair on the upper lip, chin and sideburns. The presence of hair is determined by genetic and racial factors. With age, particularly after menopause, the amount of facial hair increases and often becomes terminal hair.
 
Causes of hirsutism: Increased testosterone levels produce hirsutism. Hair follicles convert testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, which stimulates the conversion of terminal hair hair. This increase in free testosterone occurs in several conditions:

* Polycystic ovary syndrome, which is also acne, menstrual disorders, infertility
* Hyperthecosis ovaries, a condition of the ovaries
* Disorders of the adrenal glands that occur with increased androgen
* Hypothyroidism, which involves an increase in free testosterone
* Use of certain drugs: minoxidil, phenytoin, testosterone, anabolic steroids, cyclosporine, steroids, some oral contraceptives

Obesity in women occurs in many cases increasing testosterone. In most cases of hirsutism, however, there is none of the above conditions and is not a clear explanation to justify its appearance. This is known as hirsutism idiomatic, that is, of unknown origin.

Diagnosis and treatment: Hirsutism treatment is essential to know its causes. Physical examination should be performed to quantify the intensity, length and thickness of terminal hair and their distribution by location. The Fram Store is an international measurement system that provides a range. In many cases it is advisable to perform blood tests to measure hormone levels (testosterone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, free androgen index and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate). Given the hormonal profile can be considered timely testing such as ultrasound, scanner or MRI to diagnose or rule out ovarian pathology of adrenal or other.

As for treatment, in patients with ovarian disease, adrenal or other cause hormonal disorder that causes hirsutism should be removed. But when it comes to an idiopathic hirsutism, the treatment is intended to conceal or remove excess hair and hair. What is usually done is to clarify by using products that are sold in pharmacies and cosmetics. The modern method is to laser hair removal or hair removal.

Hair Removal: Its discovery was fortuitous as shaving. In its use for tattoo removal found that the area that affected the laser was shaved. The light emitted by the laser has a great appetite for the melanin (pigment that gives color to hair, skin ..) and a phenomenon of thermolysis (heat application), the hair is destroyed. Absolute contraindications to laser hair removal

* Freshly tanned leather
* Photosensitivity due to illness or drugs
* Treatment with retinoic derivatives
* Varicose veins and problems of blood clotting

Relative contraindications

* Risk of keloid scarring
* Pregnancy and lactation
* Skins very dark or black pigment
* States of immunosuppression
* Poorly controlled diabetes
* History of herpes

All these situations must be assessed and monitored by the specialist. In addition, hair removal can cause side effects in healthy people, such as vesicles or blisters and sores, which are manifested immediately, or hypo-or hyperpigmented areas that arise at a late stage and are usually transient. On rare occasions are also scars. Because of these side effects and wide range of hair removal centers, some with limited collateral, it is essential information thoroughly before opting for one or the other and, of course, be absolutely sure that does not suffer any of the above contraindications described. On the other hand must be taken into account before having a hair removal:

* There should be tan or have attended a solarium
* Not be used for skin irritants, depilatory creams, self-tanning, aloe vera ointment or photosensitizing.
* Hair should be neither clear or tinted
* The area should not have to wax burns or other skin lesions.

There is much misleading advertising that guarantees total and permanent loss of hair and hair, but the reality is that they require several sessions to remove between 70-80% of hair in the treated area. Moreover, not all parts of the body respond well and the results can be kept for a year or two. Subsequently, the hairs begin to grow again, albeit in smaller quantities and the hairs are often finer, clearer and weakened.
We must seek medical specialist when:

* The hair and rapidly growing terminal hair
* When this growth is associated with acne, deepening voice, increased muscle mass and decreased breast size (suspected tumor).
* When taking a medication and observed onset of hirsutism