Mid-Life Crisis or Male Menopause?

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You know the feeling. You're tired, no sex drive, your muscles have deflated, the weight is piling on and you just feel low.

So you think, "Am I still the same man?" Maybe you're pondering buying a red corvette and tighter jeans, thinking "this'll fix my problems?" Right?

Wrong.

You're not having a mid-life crisis, you're gradually entering into what we call "male menopause."

What is Male Menopause?

Yes, you heard that right, male menopause. This isn't a mystery nor myth or legend. Men experience menopause just as women do.

Everything about male menopause is directly linked to your testosterone levels. Your testosterone is your mojo. Your sex drive, energy levels, sleep patterns, weight, emotional health are all driven by your testosterone.

Think of your body's testosterone reserve like Chase or Citibank. That reserve is all you have to carry you throughout your entire life.

As men get older, we spend more of our testosterone than we realize. When you're "young," you're at the top of your game, right?

Here's a little known fact: when men hit the age of 30, their testosterone decreases by 1% each year after.

So imagine the difference in your hormone levels by the time you're 60 or 70? Huge difference.

Common symptoms of Low T are:

  • Increase in belly fat
  • Weight gain
  • Low to no sex drive (we certainly can't have that)
  • Fatigue
  • Risk of depression
  • Irritability
  • Mood Swings
  • Low energy
  • Bone density
  • Increased risk of diabetes

More Testosterone?

Now, you may be thinking, "Well it's simple, I need more testosterone." But it's not quite that simple.

Of course, we’re all looking for a quick fix, but immediately running to the nearest testosterone clinic is not the answer.

I think there's a lot of knee-jerk reactions from doctors when it comes to treating low T. Testosterone injections should never be the first line of defense.

Testosterone therapy, whether it's gels, patches, or injections have side effects. Too much testosterone can cause serious blood clots and recent studies have shown may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and prostate cancer.

Now some men have what we call a testosterone deficiency, where they just don't produce enough of this hormone on their own. In some cases, testosterone injections may work but only after consulting with your urologist and being very cautious about the dosage.

Natural Ways to Fight Male Menopause

The good news is I've created an entire guide for you on how to naturally fight this.

You may have heard, there's a big secret when it comes to improving your testosterone levels. Are you ready? Here it is:

Lose weight.

Yes, losing weight is the real secret to improving your testosterone levels and fighting male menopause.

As men gain weight and raise their risk of obesity, testosterone levels can dramatically decrease. All that fat sucks in your testosterone, converts it to estrogen and the result may be low libido, no energy and even man boobs.

Put up your fists men, because it's time to fight.

Dr. Samadi's Guide to Fighting Male Menopause:

1. Check your levels early in the morning.

—When you reach the age of 50, check your testosterone levels before 9am. The range can be anywhere from 300-1000 but more is not better. I think optimal levels of testosterone should be between 400-600. If the first test is low, be sure to repeat it. We should never treat or diagnose low T based on one test.

2. Pay attention to what you eat.

-If you lose weight, especially that belly fat, you will see your testosterone levels increase dramatically. Your weight should be your height in inches divided by 2. For men, it should be less than 40 inches.

3. Vitamin D

-Vitamin D is a big secret to healthy testosterone levels. Foods like shellfish, tuna, salmon, egg yolks, beans and others work great. You can also look into taking vitamin D supplements, 1,000-2,000 IU per day (that's what I personally do,) and monitor your levels after that. Vitamin D levels should be between 30-60.

4. Consult with a urologist.

How do we diagnose this? We look at each man individually. We evaluate their history, changes in sexual function, low libido, infertility issues, changes in sleep pattern, muscle strength, bone density and weight gain and work on the best treatment path from there.