M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 6
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occur as men age. Bladder cancer
also becomes more common. The
NIH encourages treatment for
heart disease and diabetes that
may prevent problems with urinary and sexual function. Healthy
eating and exercise also helps
promote healthy aging.
SOURCES:
National Institute on Aging,
“Health and Aging: Can We Prevent Aging?”
NIH Medline Plus: “Aging
Changes to the Male Reproductive System”
The Male Version of Menopause?
Changes in aging men occur gradually
therapy is helpful for older men
with low testosterone levels.
Prostate cancer is more likely to
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Aging brings natural changes to
the human body. In women, there
is menopause. In men, there is
andropause.
Andropause is the term given
to the condition of aging in a
male. The National Institutes of
Health (NIH) says men do not
experience a major, rapid change
in fertility as they age as women
do with menopause. The changes
in men occur more gradually. Testicular tissue mass decreases and
testosterone, a hormone made in
the testicles, decreases or stays the
same. A man may have more of a
problem getting an erection, and
the process may be slower and less
intense. Men continue to produce
sperm, but the tubes carrying the
sperm may become less elastic.
The prostate enlarges with
age as some of the prostate tissue is replaced with scar-like
tissue, according to the NIH.
This condition is called benign
prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and
is a common health problem that
affects about 50 percent of men.
BPH may cause problems such as
slowed urination and ejaculation.
Fertility does not seem to be affected as men age. The volume of
fluid ejaculated during sex remains
the same as men get older, but
there are fewer living sperm in the
fluid. Men may have a lower sex
drive (libido), and sexual responses may be slower. Age itself does
not prevent a man from being able
to enjoy sexual relationships, says
the NIH.
Testosterone levels naturally
drop with age. According to the
NIH, testosterone has the following benefits:
1. Keeps bones and muscles
strong.
2. Determines hair growth and
fat storage.
3. Makes sperm.
4. Maintains sex drive.
5. Makes red blood cells.
6. Boosts energy and mood.
Symptoms of low testosterone
include a diminished sex drive,
problems having an erection, a
low sperm count, sleep problems,
a decrease in muscle size and
strength, bone loss, an increase in
body fat, depression and trouble
concentrating.
Hormone therapy in the form
of a gel, patch, injection or implant
may help low testosterone levels.
Treatments such as these keep
bones and muscles strong. It is unclear, however, whether hormone
NICH
OL A
by Jean Jeffers, Staff Writer
Age itself does
not prevent
a man from
being able to
enjoy sexual
relationships
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