In many instances, testosterone replacement in men with andropause can be highly effective and beneficial. It’s not for every man, of course, even those who show symptoms on the previous quiz may have other health problems at the root of it all. Still you should discuss with your doctor if you would be a good candidate for testosterone replacement therapy.

What should I expect from testosterone replacement?

In various clinical studies, very good responses to testosterone have been reported for men with low-testosterone and they include:

• Improvement in mood and sense of well-being
• Increased mental and physical energy
• Decreased anger, irritability, sadness, tiredness, nervousness
• Improved quality of sleep
• Improved libido and sexual performance
• An increase in lean body mass, a decline in fat mass
• An increase in muscle strength (hand grip, upper and lower extremities)
• Potentially, a decrease in the risk of heart disease

With testosterone therapy, one’s attitude improves, reinforcing self-esteem and self-confidence at work, as well as an increased energy at home and in social activities. Most men will feel more vigorous, experience improved energy levels, mood, concentration, cognition, libido, sexual performance and an overall sense of well-being. These effects are usually noted within 3 to 6 weeks. Other potential benefits include maintenance or improvement in bone density, improved body composition, muscle mass and muscle strength, as well as improvement in visual-spatial skills.

Lifestyle

Of course, any ongoing strategy to reduce the symptoms and risks of andropause should incorporate lifestyle approaches such as optimal diet, regular exercise, stress-management and the reduction of tobacco and alcohol intake.