Andropause is the term given to the time when androgen hormones decline in men creating symptoms similar to those seen in menopausal women. Decreases in testosterone levels along with number of leydig cells are attributed to andropause. Although the term “adndropause” is not recognized by the World Health Organization, “low-T” and “hypogonadism” are commonly used instead.
While the symptoms are all the same, many different names have been attributed to menopause-like symptoms in males. Some physicians use the term “SLOH” or “Symptomatic Late Onset Hypogonadism” to describe andropause while others who prefer to label it a deficiency refer to it as ‘”ADAM” or “androgen deficiency of the male”. Whether or not andropause should be treated depends on one’s physician’s opinion on the matter. Some believe that andropause is a natural state that all aging males undergo and that it shouldn’t be treated as a medical abnormality while others believe that there are considerable positive effects of hormone therapy. Supporters of hormone therapy do not agree with the idea that lower hormone levels are simply a natural process of aging. They point out that as life expectancy has increased, so has the need to treat aging-related hormonal shifts. In order to form an opinion on whether andropause should be considered a treatable disease, it’s important to understand its physiological process and an underlying condition known as “adrenopause”.
Adrenopause, more commonly known as “man-opause”, is an aging- related hormonal shift due to a reduction in secretion of adrenal hormones. The adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys and are primarily involved with the synthesis of corticosteroids including cortisol and catecholamines such ...
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• Valenti, G. "Adrenopause: An Imbalance between Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and Cortisol Secretion." Publmed.gov. J Endocrinol. Invest, 8 Apr. 2003. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. .
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My case study was based on a women name Margie. Margie is a 50 year-old women that frequently exercises and maintains a healthy eating habit. Even though Margie is a fit 50 year-old her cholesterol was well above average 222. Her trainer then recommended her to sign up for extra kickboxing class and maintain a vegetarian low fat diet, therefore her cholesterol would decease. About a month later she tested her cholesterol again and after the extra exercise, low fat diet her cholesterol was higher than the previous time at 230. Therefore, Margie attended the doctor where she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism.
The hypothalamus releases corticotrophin (CHR), which is a chemical messenger. CHR stimulates the pituitary gland to release adrenal corticotrophin (ACTH). ACTH, which is released into the blood, then signals the adrenal gland. When the adrenal gland receives ACTH, it is the chemical signal for cortisol production. In a normal system, cortisol (an anti-inflammatory) production would stop after being released, but if there is a break down in the process, cortisol production continues, leading to Cushing’s disease....
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common ailments that affect aging men. Statistics show that more than half of the entire male population aged 65 have some form of BPH, while about 90 percent of men aged 85 have the condition. Every year, in the United States alone, about a quarter of a million surgeries are performed to correct BPH. As they name implies, BPH is a non-malignant growth of the prostate, the gland that secretes semen, the fluid that transports sperm. Although not harmful, BPH can bring about symptoms that could largely affect the quality of life of its sufferers.
CAH is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder and males and females are affected in equal numbers. Chromosome 6 is where the group of genes lie that causes the most common forms of CAH. Adrenocorticotropic hormones (ACTH) are released by the anterior lobe in the pituitary gland. Its role is to act on cells of the adrenal cortex which then synthesizes corticosteroids and cortisol. However, those with CAH have insufficient amounts of the enzyme 21-hydroxylase, needed to convert 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) into cortisol.
Addison’s disease is a disorder of the endocrine system. It is a hormonal disorder that can strike anyone, any gender at any age. Addison’s disease has also been called Adrenal Insufficiency (hypocortisolism) because the root of the disease is in the adrenal gland not producing enough of the hormone cortisol, or sometimes not enough of the hormone aldosterone to satisfy the body’s needs.
Menopause is marked by the cessation of the menstrual cycle for twelve consecutive months. Natural menopause varies in timing from woman to woman, but typ...
Although Alzheimer’s disease appears to be the most common cause of dementia, “more than 50 conditions are associated with dementia, including degenerative ...
Thesis/Preview Statement – Alzheimer’s disease (AD) causes a decline in brain function, it destroys healthy nerve cells. Today, we have discussed Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis of AD.
Alzheimer’s disease is a complex illness that affects the brain tissue directly and undergoes gradual memory and behavioral changes which makes it difficult to diagnose. It is known to be the most common form of dementia and is irreversible. Over four million older Americans have Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to triple in the next twenty years as more people live into their eighties and nineties. (Johnson, 1989). There is still no cure for Alzheimer’s but throughout the past few years a lot of progress has been made.
Although steroids have many negative effects, they have many needed medical purposes. Androgens have many legitimate medical uses, such as the use for treatment of hypogonadal men to compensate for the lack of endogenous production. Anabolic steroids are also helpful for the treatment of certain adolescent diseases, some types of anemias, and for a relatively rare form of edema. Other clinical uses focus on the tissue building and anti-catabolic effects, such as in the treatment of burn victims, AIDS, or HIV positive patients, or patients malnourished from disease or old age (Bellino 1).
Sharpe, Richard M. and Niels Skakkebaek. 1993. Are oestrogens involved in falling sperm counts and disorders of the male reproductive tract? Lancet
Describe what AIS is and mechanism of Androgenic Insensitivity Syndrome. Explain the hormonal mechanism underlying the development of these symptoms. Discuss how these condition relates to typical sex development.
Dementia is an organic brain syndrome which results in global cognitive impairments. Dementia can occur as a result of a variety of neurological diseases. Some of the more well known dementing diseases include Alzheimer's disease (AD), multi-infarct dementia (MID), and Huntington's disease (HD). Throughout this essay the emphasis will be placed on AD (also known as dementia of the Alzheimer's type, and primary degenerative dementia), because statistically it is the most significant dementing disease occurring in over 50% of demented patients (see epidemiology).
Anti-androgen medications such as medroxyprogesterone acetate decrease testosterone levels and can reduce deviant sexual perversions in individuals having various paraphilia’s.
...ian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common female endocrine conditions. It affects about 5 to 10 percent of women of reproductive age14. Women who have PCOS often suffer from high levels of hormones called androgens – a steroid hormone that regulates the development of male characteristics-14. This syndrome results in obesity, excessive hair growth, reproductive problems and other health issues.