Male Menopause: A Closer Look At Andropause

The term “andropause” can sound unfamiliar to some—however—it’s a term everyone must be aware of. It refers to male menopause, which defines age-related changes in the levels of male hormones. Andropause shares the same symptoms as testosterone deficiency, androgen deficiency, and late-onset hypogonadism.

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At least 30 percent of men age 60 to 70 and 70 percent of men from 70 to 80 have low testosterone levels. While the root cause of reduced testosterone availability is the decrease of testicular function, pituitary issues can also be a consideration. The symptoms of male menopause include depression, loss of energy, sexual dysfunction, sluggish sex drive, increase body fat, decreased muscle mass and strength, and overall weakness. Although it may seem that its symptoms are similar to simply aging, it’s critical to know that low testosterone can produce effects far more serious than a new batch of physical aches and pains.

Testosterone replacement therapy is one of the common treatments for andropause. Such therapy has been made into an injection, gel, pill, or patch. There have been particular symptomatic improvements reported—however—synthetic or artificial replacements don’t imitate the body’s natural pattern.

Symptoms of male menopause are inevitable, especially as men age, although there are a few steps to reduce its severity. An unhealthy lifestyle only aggravates its symptoms; men are advised to quit smoking, exercise on a regular basis, and lose weight healthily. Men are not immune to changes brought by aging. It can be tough, but men who are physically, mentally, and emotionally at their best, will be prepared to face such change in their bodies.

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Dr. Victoria Mondloch is an independent physician based in Wisconsin. She is planning on a five-book series on the practice of using hormone balancing as the foundation of health and wellness. Learn more about Dr. Mondloch here.

How Much Will It Cost To Get Stem Cell Knee Injection?

Knee pain from osteoarthritis is one of the common reasons people seek stem cell knee therapy, which comes in the form of injection. Provided by reputable medical clinics with research consent from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these injections are often used as an alternative to surgical joint replacement, which could be costly, invasive, and entail massive downtime.

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But how much does it cost to get a stem cell knee injection for osteoarthritic pain and a range of musculoskeletal conditions? The cost largely depends on the specific circumstances. One, therapy may be availed at a stem cell clinic or a university or major medical center. Second, insurance coverage may also play a factor in the needed funding.

Stem cell therapy for knee osteoarthritis is growing, with centers revealing high clinical efficacy as well as direct-to-consumer mean cost that exceeds $5,000 for every therapy, according to a study shown at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The therapy had a mean cost of $5,156 based on the 65 centers that disclosed pricing information for a same-day stem cell unilateral knee injection. The price range was $1,150 to $12,000.

The cost is likely completely out of pocket, too. There have been patients, however, who already underwent a knee replacement but revealed that they aren’t interested in another surgery for the opposite knee and that their deductible cost – even with Medicare and their supplement – was about $5,000 or the cost of a single joint stem cell injection.

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It’s also interesting to note how different places charge patients. In traditional clinic trials, the participants may only have to pay smaller associated costs and others such as travel and lodging. At for-profit clinics, the prices cited above may very well apply, and with the different clinics around, competition may also play a role.

Victoria Mondloch, M.D., is a practicing physician with more than three decades of experience. She holds free weekly public lectures on joint pain and intra-articular stem cell injections. More articles like this here.