Men

Prostate Health

The prostate is a gland that is located at the base of the urinary bladder in men and surrounds the first part of the urethra, the tube through which urine drains from the bladder to the exit from the penis. The prostate gland has two major functions: 1) to help control the flow of urination by pressing directly on the part of the urethra that it surrounds and 2) to secrete some of the fluid that is found in normal semen (the fluid that transports sperm), such as minerals and sugar. In a young man, the normal prostate gland is about the size of a walnut, however aging and inflammatory conditions of the prostate can cause the prostate gland to grow much larger.

With aging it is almost universal in men to have an enlarged prostate gland. It is most commonly seen in men over the age of 40, and 50% of men over the age of 50 have enlarged prostates. Although an enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), may not cause men any difficulties in everyday functioning, often it can lead to problems with urination such as decrease in force of urination, sensation of incomplete voiding, increased frequency in urination, and dribbling of urine. 

Although BPH is a rather benign condition, it has similar signs and symptoms to prostate cancer which may be a more serious diagnosis in men. Like BPH, prostate cancer can be asymptomatic and it may not cause any problems in men until it is advanced in its progression. It is important for men to begin screening for prostate cancer at age 50 and at 40 years in African-Americans or in men who have a family history of prostate cancer as prostate cancer accounts for 70% of all male cancers and only lung cancer has a higher mortality rate.

Male Hormone Balancing

Men experience a decline in levels of their primary hormone, testosterone, as they age. This decline in testosterone in aging men has been termed “Andropause.” The loss of testosterone, which can happen to men as young as 35, is gradual, with testosterone levels dropping just 1 percent to 1.5 percent annually. Unlike the precipitous loss of estrogen which menopausal women face, the gradual loss of testosterone may take years to exact its mark on men. Declining testosterone levels in men can impact men’s health in a variety of ways – from declining energy levels to increased risk for cardiovascular disease. 

Common symptoms that men often feel with declining testosterone includes Erectile Dysfunction (ED), decline in libido, irritability, depression, anxiety, fatigue, weight gain especially around the abdomen, loss of muscle mass and muscle weakness and enlarged prostate. Often men feel that they just don’t feel as “manly” as they once did and don’t have the same drive or zest for life that they once had. Not only can men have the unwanted symptoms of declining testosterone as mentioned previously, but with lowered testosterone levels can be predisposed to developing other more serious conditions like cardiovascular disease, obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes, osteoporosis, and prostate problems. 

The symptoms of and risk factors associated with lowered testosterone might lead a Naturopathic physician to suggest testing and treatment for hormonal imbalance. Naturopathic physicians and students at Southwest Naturopathic Medical Center take a full individualized history from you to determine if you are experiencing symptoms of andropause. They most often spend up to an hour and half with you on your first visit to really get to know you as a person and to know your full history before starting with any laboratory tests or with any treatments. 

Both simple blood tests, like a male hormone panel, and other specialized tests like a thyroid function test or an adrenal function test, can determine the underlying cause of your andropausal symptoms. Other specialized tests such as a Cardiovascular Risk Assessment can determine your risk of developing other conditions like cardiovascular disease and even insulin resistance or diabetes. With the use of natural Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) in conjunction with many other natural treatment options, like herbs, nutritional supplementation, and acupuncture, or prescription medications, andropause can be managed effectively and help men regain and attain optimal health as they age.