Hot tips on restoring male machismo

Your once-upon-a-time macho, hot–in-bed husband has turned into a couch potato, preferring to watch the Sports Channel than succumbing to your seductive charm. His libido has diminished, he has difficulty performing without Viagra, has unexplained hot flashes, is easily fatigued, and his athletic body has expanded around the abdominal area. You both wonder what is ailing him. Could he be undergoing what middle-age women feel when they are in menopause? 

Whether they admit it or not, male menopause exists and it is called andropause, which is the result of a gradual drop in testosterone which is an androgen (male sex hormone) giving the condition its name. Testosterone assists the male body in building protein and is crucial for normal sexual drive and stamina, and in producing erections.  Testosterone also contributes to several metabolic functions, including bone formation, liver function, prostate gland growth, and production of blood cells in the bone marrow.

I first heard this word andropause in 2006 from Suzanne Somers whom I met in Shanghai during a dinner party hosted by China’s cosmetic queen and TV celebrity Yue Sai Kan.  I had the good fortune to be seated next to her and her husband Alan Hamel. They both educated me on the mid-life crisis experienced by both men and women  menopause for women and andropause for men.  Alan explained that unlike his contemporaries, he did not experience loss of muscle mass, a dwindling libido, widening of the girth, night sweats, irritability, and a host of other symptoms related to andropause, thanks to natural hormones that his doctor gave him.  

Here are more vital bits of information about andropause, according to Dr. Marissa Torre, an expert in homeopathic and natural medicine.

Andropause should not be taken lightly because, aside from the usual loss of libido, weight gain, hot flashes and night sweats, etc., there are serious symptoms such as impaired memory, inability to concentrate, depression, gynecomastia (male breasts), osteoporosis, heart condition, and impotency (which is a very big deal to male machismo!). She emphasizes that while andropause does not cause a man’s reproductive system to stop working altogether, many experience cycles of impotency and loss of libido. She also stressed that a sure sign of the testosterone level dwindling is the widening of the abdominal girth which research shows makes the person prone to heart conditions. Here is a formula to keep yourself within the safe “girth” measurements: Take your height in inches, divide it by 2. Your waistline should be within your results. For example, if you are 5”6, you are 66 inches in height, divide by 2, your waist should be approximately 33 inches or less. An inch or two more will not put you at risk. This applies also to women. 

Based on Dr. Torre’s research, premature andropause can occur in males who experience excessive female hormone stimulation through workplace exposure to estrogen. Men who work in pharmaceutical companies, plastic factories, near incinerators, and on farms that use pesticides are at high risk for early andropause. 

The solution to treating andropause is a panel hormone test from male saliva or urine. The results are sent to a laboratory and a customized treatment can be created to adjust the testosterone, DHEA, and other hormone levels as well. Each man’s anatomy and physiology are different so androgen replacement therapy is not a “one size fits all” diagnosis  thus, a customized treatment is advised. 

Dr. Torre advises men experiencing andropause to exercise, go on a healthy diet (she specifies taking flaxseed oil, reducing red meat intake, and going big on fruits and vegetables), reduce stress, and avoid exposure to toxic environment. She also recommends doing detoxification programs especially for overweight men, and having revitalization drip infusions of a cocktail of vitamins, amino acids, and minerals. 

The best news for men is that hormone losses and imbalances are easily correctible, and through proper treatment, their andropause symptoms can be reversed, bringing about a healthier, younger, and once again, sexy you! 

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For inquiries, call Dr. Marissa Torre at 553-7289; text 0917-8535997.