Male menopause is a myth? Maybe not, says Laurence M. Demers, Ph.D., professor of pathology and medicine and director of clinical chemistry and laboratory automation in the MS Hershey Medical Center of Pennsylvania State University-tests. According to Dr. Demers, there seems to be a physiological basis - as there are for women - for what virile as andropause or menopause known. Dr. Demers discuss the topic at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), at McCormick Place in Chicago, August 30, July 2, 2001
Male menopause is a phenomenon that many women have claimed to be observed in the last decades. But the transition from social observation to scientific examination, clinical chemists, pathologists and clinical scientists more about the relatively new concept of andropause, which can be identified by the male testosterone.
Why are so many men on Viagra?
The question received the testosterone of men has increased attention in recent years due to the increased use of Viagra. "Why do so many men on Viagra?" Ask Dr. Demers. "There are many men who have libido problems?"
Researchers suggest that women experience menopause due to declining estrogen levels can males live their own version - andropause - the decreased testosterone levels. Symptoms that men can cause checked in the doctor's office for your testosterone include male infertility and decreased libido.
Most doctors initially test the level of total testosterone. Normal values between 250-800 ng / dl. A value of less than 250 shows a low testosterone levels. For someone with low testosterone levels, more research is needed. If other tests to determine the level of free and albumin-bound testosterone, are also low, the doctor will try to identify the cause. Low testosterone levels can be the result of a malfunction of the testicles or the pituitary gland.
Dr. Demers and colleagues found that the level of testosterone and androgen precursor steroids may vary between different ethnic groups.
- A study of Portuguese Americans and Asians, for example, found that the average level of testosterone in Portuguese subjects was about 500, among Americans, ~ 450 and ~ 400 Asian population.
- Large differences androgen steroid precursors such as DHEA observed. Asian men generally have less facial and body hair than the Americans, who generally have less of the Portuguese.
- There is also a lower incidence of prostate cancer in Asian men, leading researchers theorize that testosterone may be a "driver" for prostate cancer, although estrogen can be a "pilot" for his cancer breast.
- This theory is supported by evidence that African-American men have higher testosterone levels and higher rates of prostate cancer as well.
"However, this is all preliminary data," says Dr. Demers, "and must be strictly confirmed scientifically."
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The American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) was founded in 1948 and is the most prestigious professional association in the world for clinical biologists, clinical and molecular pathologists and other related fields. Clinical biologists are in all areas of laboratory tests in humans, including infectious diseases, and genetic diseases, DNA, and the presence of tumor markers trained specialists. The primary professional commitment to clinical biologists is the understanding and application of laboratory tests for the diagnosis, control and treatment of human diseases effectively.
--- American Association for Clinical Chemistry
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