Overview
Andropause is a condition where the patient’s level of the male hormone testosterone is lower than normal and the patient has symptoms such as erectile dysfunction, lack of energy, inability to concentrate and mood changes.
Causes
Andropause is usually due to the aging process. It is also known as late-onset hypogonadism. However there are other causes of low testosterone such as:
- Testicular damage eg. due to previous infection, trauma, radiotherapy
- Tumours in the pituitary gland
Treatments
Medication
Testosterone supplementation is the main treatment for andropause. The testosterone can be given various ways. Many patients opt for a testosterone injection every 3 months. Another method is to apply testosterone gel to the shoulder or abdominal area on a daily basis.