Andropause is a medical condition recognized by physicians, the Canadian and International Society for the Study of the Aging Male (CSSAM), the Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (CSEM), the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as by a majority of ordinary Canadians.

Andropause is defined as "An age-related decline in serum testosterone levels in older men to below the normal range in young men that is associated with a clinical syndrome (i.e., symptoms and signs) consistent with androgen (testosterone) deficiency".

There are three key points when considering the diagnosis of andropause:

1. There has to be a decline in serum testosterone. We need to know two things about this. One, that while we do have normal ranges that we measure against, we can only know about any individual's decline if we have a baseline when they're normal, so having a test taken in your early 40s before this decline may happen is something to discuss with your doctor. Two, the best measure seems to be bioavailable testosterone, which is the testosterone your body can actually use, and which needs to be tested specifically.

2. There have to be signs and symptoms. The symptoms include fatigue and low energy, poor concentration and irritability, as well as decreased interest in sex. The signs may include anemia, loss of strength or change in muscle mass, or decrease in bone density, and erectile dysfunction, among others.

3. Age is a factor. It's sad to say, but "middle age begins in your forties" (how many 90 year olds do you know? How many pro athletes are still competitive in their forties?), and we know that 40 is the age when testosterone levels begin to start their age-related decline. In fact, by their 50s, 50% of men have a significant reduction in bioavailable testosterone.

One quick way to check for symptoms of low testosterone is to take the ADAM test.

This site has been designed to provide you with practical information about andropause -- what causes it and what you can do about it. And if you are going through andropause, we hope this information will help you to know what's available to you so you can work with your doctor to get back to your healthy, happy, active life.

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