Stephen Hotze, M.D., author of the new book, "Hormones, Health, and Happiness," says,"As the sex hormones decline in women over time, so too, aging in men leads to the gradual and steady decline in testosterone."

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This condition in men is termed andropause, which is analogous to menopause in women, says Hotze. Although testosterone production in men does not stop completely, it does gradually decline over their lifetime. By the time a man is 40 years old his testosterone level will be approximately what it was when it peaked in his twenties. By the time a man is 50 years old it will be 1/3 of its peak; at 60 it will or less of its peak level. The natural course of production of all the various hormones in our body is downward after they have peaked in our late teens and early twenties.

Dr. Hotze says some signs of andropause are:
-loss of muscle mass and strength
-decrease in the size of the penis, erection difficulties,decline in libido
-increased body fat around the waist
-lower red blood cell counts
-lower sperm counts
-decreases hair in the pubic area and under the arms
-diminished stamina and endurance, loss of energy,
-depressed and irritable moods
-lack of motivation ,lack of goals, poor sense of well being
-loss of initiative and assertiveness
-loss of interest in work, focusing on retirement prematurely
-bone loss and osteoporosis

There is a natural decline in testicular function with age which is associated with a concomitant decline in testosterone. This is common in males but it is not healthy.

The decline in testosterone and in the other hormones is the prelude to the degenerative diseases which afflict men as they age, such as, heart disease, arthritis, obesity, high blood pressure, adult onset diabetes and cancer. While these diseases may occur in younger individuals, their incidence increases with age and the associated decline in hormones.

The diagnosis of andropause, the decline in male hormone, can easily be made based upon the patient's age and his clinical symptoms. The diagnosis can easily be confirmed by obtaining a free testosterone blood level. Only 1% of testosterone is free and available for use by the cells of the body. The remaining 99% of testosterone is bound to proteins in the blood and unavailable for the cells.

Biologically identical human testosterone can be easily supplemented. It is available in creams, gels, patches, capsules, pellets and by injection. Clinically, the best results are by weekly injections of 100-150mg. Testosterone Cypionate in an oil base, which allows for a slow release. This maintains a steady blood level of testosterone without the associated highs and lows that accompany larger and less frequent injections. When large injections are given less frequently the extra testosterone can be converted to estrone, an estrogen hormone, by the fat cells of the body. This leads to an effect opposite than the one desired. In testosterone supplementation less given more frequently is better.

Some pharmaceutical companies have produced counterfeit testosterone hormones which have serious side effects. They are methyltestosterone and flouxylmesterone. These hormones have even been combined with estrogen hormones for women. These counterfeit testosterone products have been associated with severe liver disorders including liver cancer.