Free Testosterone – What is it?
Free testosterone is a term that indicates the level of testosterone in the bloodstream. It is used as an important indicator in determining the health of an individual as they become susceptible to diseases such as osteoporosis.
ANDROPAUSE – The Male Menopause
Decreased hormone levels are not exclusive to women. Studies have shown men have shown a substantial decrease in testosterone levels over time. Dubbed the andropause stage, men of advanced age experience a decrease in erectile function, sexual desire, as well as mood swings and emotional changes. They also tend to lose body mass and strength due to lower bone mass, muscle tissue, and a rise in bodily fat.
ADAM — Androgen Deficiency in the Aging
Furthermore, androgen and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) deficiency can lead to a number of health risks such as high cholesterol, bone fractures, heart disease, obesity and depression.
Using data from 1226 men, Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1991), lower testosterone and SHBG levels were shown to be associated with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is an array of medical symptoms and disorders that increases the chance of developing diabetes or heart disease.
Alcohol Usage and Osteoporosis
While in modest amounts it may protect bone density, alcohol abuse can diminish bone density by stimulating bone resorption and suppressing the formation of new bones. Prolonged alcohol abuse can affect bone mass density through multiple mechanisms, including nutrition deficiency, decreased physical activity, and toxicity.
Menopause and Free Testosterone
Menopause isn’t the end of the world, and while it means you can no longer reproduce, it doesn’t mean you can’t, won’t and shouldn’t have sex. Sex is exercise. Sex is cardiovascular. Sex is healthy, fun, and can attenuate the effects of age.
Contrary to popular myth, a woman’s need for sexual intimacy is not related to menopause. In fact, during this stage many women experience a rise in free testosterone levels, boosting their sex drive. A lack of sex drive, consequently, may have more to do with stress than testosterone. Seeking the advice of a gynecologist or psychiatric professional may help ameliorate these issues. Sex drive can also decrease as a result of pain associated with the act. A lack of estrogen may result in vaginal dryness and contractions, and use of lubricants or gels may remedy this.
Levels of Free Testosterone
Normal level of free testosterone are about 100 to 680 pg/ml for males and 3 to 22 pg/ml for females. One of the causes for decreased levels of free testosterone in men is not a lack of production, but an excess, which causes the body to alter its production cycle to another carrier protein such as estrogen. The estrogen then binds to a testosterone receptor site on the cell, blocking the opportunity for free testosterone to link with the cell membrane. As a result, no matter how much free testosterone is produced, it cannot reach the cells that actuate it.
The common medical prescription for this problem is exogenous testosterone replacement. Consult your doctor to find out if this treatment is right for you.
