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00:17For many men, getting older doesn't just mean a few grey hairs or needing more rest.
00:23It can also bring changes in energy levels, sleep, mood and even overall confidence.
00:28According to urologist Dr. Vimal Setahal, declining testosterone, commonly referred to as male menopause or andropause, is more common than
00:38many people realize.
00:40Male menopause, andropause, late onset hypogonadism, or the correct would be androgen, declining the aging male, is quite common in
00:49our population.
00:49And for all men, we do go through a version of menopause where our hormone profile does decrease, our testosterone
00:57does decrease.
00:57It actually affects about 10% of men by the time we're 50 years old, and about 20% of
01:03men by the time we're 60.
01:05As men age, Dr. Setahal says, testosterone levels naturally decline.
01:10Symptoms can range from fatigue and low sex drive to depression, poor concentration and erectile dysfunction.
01:17But Dr. Setahal says, there's no one-size-fits-all solution, which is why proper testing is important before any
01:25treatment begins.
01:26We know our testosterone decreases as we get older as men.
01:30Now, your testosterone drives your testicles to produce testosterone.
01:36Or rather, your pituitary gland drives your testicles to produce testosterone.
01:43That axis is what becomes bothered as we get older as men.
01:48And we think overstimulation of that axis from a high testosterone when we were younger causes a decrease in what
01:55we call receptor avidity.
01:57That is basically the testosterone that is there.
02:01While it is there, it's no longer able to be converted to the active form of testosterone quite so well
02:07anymore.
02:08And also, the ability for your testes to produce the testosterone is decreased.
02:14He explains that as men get older, the body's hormone system changes, making it harder for testosterone to work effectively
02:22and reducing the body's ability to produce enough of it.
02:25And while low testosterone may sound straightforward, Dr. Setahal warns it can sometimes point to other underlying medical issues.
02:34That is why medical testing helps doctors determine exactly where the problem is coming from.
02:40Now, if it is that the testosterone is low, then we're going to assess whether it is coming from the
02:47brain chemistry or whether it's at the testicular level.
02:50If it's coming at the testicular level, then you can have testosterone supplementation.
02:55If it's coming from the brain level, there are ways that we can find if it's a tumor of the
03:00brain.
03:01And it doesn't have to be cancer of the brain to be a tumor of the brain.
03:04And then we can treat from there.
03:06Depending on the results, some men may benefit from testosterone therapy, while others may simply need healthier lifestyle habits.
03:15Dr. Setahal says regular exercise, proper sleep, and better eating habits can improve overall health.
03:22He wants men to stop suffering in silence and seek medical advice early instead of waiting until symptoms become severe.
03:30I am Charlotte Kisto with tonight's Health Watch.
03:36The Mathividad.
03:37The Mathividad.
03:38The Mathividad.
03:40The Mathividad.
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