Many people associate male hormones with "muscles" and "sex drive," but their role extends far beyond that. In fact, testosterone, a type of male hormone, holds a crucial key to lifelong mental and physical health.
Testosterone levels quietly but surely decline with age. This article explores the little-known relationship between male hormones and aging, revealing how changes in testosterone levels affect vitality and health.
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The male hormone testosterone gradually decreases with age.
The male hormone testosterone gradually decreases with age, starting in middle age. In contrast to the rapid changes in female hormones during menopause, the decline in male hormones is characterized by a gradual progression.
Therefore, it is often difficult to notice the changes, and people may continue to feel vaguely unwell. There are significant individual differences in when the decline begins, how fast it goes, and how severe it is; some people start seeing a decline in their 40s, while others maintain high levels even in old age.
A decrease in testosterone can cause a variety of changes in the body, mind, and sexual function.
Source: Japan Endocrine Society | Male Menopause (Age-Related Hypogonadism, LOH Syndrome)
Age-related secretion of male hormones
The amount of male hormones secreted changes during puberty, adulthood, and old age.
puberty
Adolescence is something everyone experiences, and the changes in masculine physical characteristics, such as voice change, muscle growth, and beard growth, are precisely caused by a surge in testosterone secretion.
As the testes grow and actively produce testosterone, the body changes from that of a child to that of an adult male.
adulthood
Testosterone levels peak between the ages of 20 and 30. During this period, you are at your most energetic, both physically and mentally.
However, subsequent changes vary from person to person. Some men experience a gradual decline from their 30s or 40s, while others maintain almost the same levels as in their younger years even into their 70s and 80s. This large individual variation is one reason why male menopausal symptoms are so diverse.
old age
As we age, the function of the testes, which are the factories that produce testosterone, gradually declines. This can lead to various health problems such as decreased energy and muscle weakness. These symptoms caused by declining testicular function can sometimes be improved with testosterone replacement therapy at a medical institution.
Source: Japanese Society for Men's Health Medicine | What is Testosterone? "Testosterone Secretion"
Differences from female hormones
The biggest difference between male menopause and female menopause lies in the "timing" and "duration" of when hormone levels begin to decline.
In women, the timing is clear because female hormones decrease rapidly during the approximately 10-year period around the age of 50 when menopause occurs. On the other hand, in men, it can start at any time after the age of 40, and there is no specific time when it begins.
Furthermore, in women, hormonal fluctuations stabilize about five years after menopause, and the body adapts to the reduced hormone levels. However, in men, the decline is ongoing and slow, which can lead to prolonged discomfort.
| male | woman | |
|---|---|---|
| cause | Decreased male hormone levels | Decreased female hormone levels |
| season | There's no specific rule (you can start anytime after your 40s). | Approximately 5 years before and after menopause (around age 50) |
| period | There is no end | It stabilizes about 5 years after menopause. |
Source: Japan Endocrine Society | Male Menopause (Age-Related Hypogonadism, LOH Syndrome)
Symptoms that appear when the male hormone "testosterone" decreases
Male hormones are like a "guardian" for men's health. When testosterone levels decrease with age, various ailments appear, sometimes referred to as "male menopause (LOH syndrome)."
The symptoms that appear in male menopause are as follows:
- Depressive state, sexual dysfunction, and cognitive decline
- Diabetes
- obesity
- Metabolic syndrome
- Osteoporosis
- Cardiovascular disease (arteriosclerosis, impaired vascular endothelial function)
- Sarcopenia (muscle loss)
In fact, some studies have shown that people with higher testosterone levels tend to live longer, highlighting the importance of maintaining this hormone. Since a decrease in male hormones is influenced by factors such as stress and lack of sleep, improving lifestyle habits is crucial.
Source: Japan Endocrine Society | Male Menopause (Age-Related Hypogonadism, LOH Syndrome)
Fighting aging: How to maintain and improve testosterone levels?
To maintain or improve testosterone levels as you age, start by reviewing your lifestyle. If your symptoms persist even after improving your lifestyle, you should consult a medical professional.
Lifestyle habits that promote testosterone secretion
The causes of decreased testosterone are hidden in our everyday lifestyle habits. Smoking, heavy drinking, and excessive stress are certainly contributing factors, but one of the biggest causes is obesity. Effective countermeasures include exercise and improving diet. In fact, studies have shown that testosterone levels increase as weight decreases.
However, strict calorie restriction is not sustainable in the long run. For example, simply being mindful of your daily diet by using an app to take pictures of your meals and record them can be effective. Recently, there are also functional foods that contain ingredients that support the maintenance of testosterone, and it would be a good idea to make good use of these as well.
Source: Male Menopause and Lifestyle
Source: Low Testosterone in Men with Type 2 Diabetes: Significance and Treatment
Treatment options available at medical institutions for low male hormone levels
Generally, the treatment methods differ depending on whether the male hormone levels are not too low and the symptoms are mild, or whether the male hormone levels are low and the symptoms are severe.
If male hormone levels are not very low and the symptoms are mild
If your symptoms persist despite trying to improve your lifestyle, you should first consult a medical professional. If the decrease in hormone levels is mild, you may be prescribed herbal medicine aimed at improving your constitution, or you may be treated with medications that alleviate specific symptoms, such as ED treatment drugs, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, or osteoporosis medications.
If male hormone levels are low and symptoms are severe
If blood tests reveal significantly low testosterone levels and the patient is diagnosed with severe symptoms, "male hormone replacement therapy" becomes an option. In Japan, intramuscular injections of testosterone preparations are covered by insurance and are the most common treatment method.
[Perspective from Regenerative Medicine] An approach to hormone production capacity itself
In addition to lifestyle improvements and hormone replacement therapy, a new approach called "regenerative medicine" has been attracting attention in recent years. This new approach through regenerative medicine aims to support the function of tissues and cells that have deteriorated due to aging from a more fundamental level.
Although still in the research stage, attempts are underway to create "Leydig cells," which primarily secrete testosterone, from iPS cells (induced pluripotent stem cells), transplant these cells, and restore the hormone-producing ability itself.
If this treatment becomes a reality, it has the potential to provide lifelong effects with just one treatment. It is a promising method of future medicine that aims to restore youthfulness to cells throughout the body and create a body that is less prone to hormonal imbalances.
Source: Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Into Testosterone-Producing Leydig-like Cells
summary
The male hormone testosterone naturally decreases with age. However, maintaining high testosterone levels is crucial not only for immediate vitality but also for preserving future quality of life (QOL) and overall healthy lifespan.
If you're experiencing health problems after the age of 40, start reviewing your lifestyle and making efforts to reduce any factors that may be lowering testosterone levels. It's important to understand age-related changes correctly and deal with them wisely. If you're experiencing serious health problems, don't suffer alone; please consider consulting a medical professional.
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