Family Physicians and the Male in the Andropause

Andropause in men seen with the advancement of age, in fact, is the name of a physiological process associated with a decrease in testosterone. Although andropause is labeled as male menopause, there are obvious differences between menopauses. In menopause the clinical course emerge with a sudden decrease in estrogen and progesterone hormones, while in andropause, testosterone gradually decreases with the advancing age and the process of clinical symptoms emergence may last more insidious and longer than menopause. In terms of reproduction, these two clinical conditions are different. While in menopause, fertility completely disappears; in andropause fertility can continue until very advanced ages. In this paper, prominent conditions in andropause associated with primary health care are summarized.