Andropause refers to the age-related decline in testosterone and other hormones that can affect energy, libido, mood, body composition, and performance. This topic covers common symptoms, diagnosis and lab testing, lifestyle strategies, and when options like TRT may be appropriate to restore health and quality of life.
Accurate testosterone measurement in men requires a morning serum (blood) testosterone test using validated lab methods, confirmed on at least two separate days before diagnosing “low T.” Here’s how timing, test type (total vs free), and common at-home kits can skew results and lead you toward the wrong next step. “If you get testosterone testing ...
SHBG is a liver-made carrier protein that tightly binds roughly 70% of circulating testosterone, so higher SHBG can lower free (bioavailable) testosterone and cause “low T” symptoms even when total testosterone looks normal; adult men typically fall around 13.3–89.5 nmol/L. Understanding where your SHBG sits helps explain what your tissues can actually use—and why treatment ...
Low testosterone can contribute to joint pain by increasing chronic inflammation and weakening the muscle, bone, and cartilage support that stabilizes joints, and studies have linked low levels to about double the risk of developing osteoarthritis. If aching knees or stiff shoulders come with fatigue, lower libido, or shrinking strength, it’s worth seeing how hormones ...
Most male hot flushes are triggered by a drop in testosterone that narrows the hypothalamus’ thermoneutral “comfort zone,” causing sudden heat-dumping responses like flushing and sweating (rates reach 70%–80% on androgen-deprivation therapy). Here’s how to tell whether low testosterone, medications, or another hormone problem is driving yours—and which treatments actually work. “When a man tells ...
Losing morning erections for many weeks often means nocturnal penile tumescence is being blunted by reduced penile blood flow, impaired nerve signaling, or poor sleep — and it can flag vascular problems even when testosterone is normal. Here’s how to interpret the change and when it should prompt a closer look at diabetes and cardiovascular ...