Over time, men experience a gradual loss of hormones produced in the gonads and adrenal glands. Declining testosterone and other anabolic hormones in men from the mid-30s onward may influence the age-related deteriorations in the body and function.
Testosterone and DHEA levels fall and oestrogen levels tend to rise. Male menopause, or what is also termed ‘andropause,’ can contribute to the following symptoms:
- Weight gain
- Loss of libido or lower sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction
- Depression
- Hair loss
- Sleeping problems
- Fatigue
- Increased prostate cancer risk
The rate of decline in testosterone levels varies in different individuals and is affected by chronic disease, such as obesity, illness, emotional stress, and medications. This decline can be decelerated by management of health and lifestyle factors.
Many men feel this is part of getting older and do not realise that we can investigate the hormone imbalances and address them to help optimise health.
The test measures testosterone, the stress hormones DHEA-S and Cortisol plus progesterone and oestrogen and their breakdown products. It covers 35 different hormones.
- Oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone – the important sex hormones
- Daily free cortisol including 4 different samples taken over 24 hours providing information about stress patterns throughout the day.
- Oxidative stress marker (8OHdG) providing information about free radicals and damage to cells
- Melatonin – the major modulator of circadian rhythms in the body associated with the sleep / wake cycle.
- Organic acids including markers for vitamin B12 (methylmalonate), vitamin B6 (xanthurenate), glutathione (pyroglutamate), dopamine (homovanillate), adrenaline (vanilmandelate), and serotonin (5-hydroxy indole acetate). These provide information about metabolism/workings in the body’s pathways.
- Cortisol Awakening Response – an indicator of the adrenal function with the natural rise of cortisol in the morning measured.
In addition to the hormone conditions mentioned above, this test is really useful to anybody who is potentially suffering from a low or elevated Cortisol Awakening Response. Symptoms could include but not limited to:
- Excessive psychological burnout
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Sleep apnoea
- Poor sleep or insomnia
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Chronic Fatigue
- Chronic Pain
- Chronic stress
- Glycaemic dysregulation
- Depression
Other areas that this could be implicated, include:
- Systemic hypertension
- Gastro Intestinal diseases
- Postpartum depression
- Autoimmune diseases