There are 3 important “sex” hormones—testosterone, progesterone and estrogen. The testes produce a lot of testosterone and a little progesterone and estrogen. The ovaries produce a lot of estrogen and progesterone and some testosterone. We should say, the above is true when we are younger.
At age 30 both men and women start producing less testosterone. Many men will decrease by 90% their production of testosterone from age 25 to 70. Most of us do not want to be producing 90% less of anything we had when we were 25. Men will usually develop a belly even though they haven’t changed their diet. They do not have the energy to participate in sports, but just watch. To perform at optimal levels (our peak in life) we need to replace this lost testosterone. Even in the penis the normally functioning smooth muscles that cause strong erections and propulsion’s is replaced with fat. This is seen by erectile dysfunction but also what is known as a “flaccid (flabby) penis”.
Women will see a much greater drop in testosterone because the ovaries stop production of all sex hormones fairly quickly at menopause. The production of testosterone is the first hormone to begin decreasing. Men and women see this as weight gain and loss of muscle mass. Most will lose 10 ounces of muscle per year after age 30. This is about the size of a good steak. Lost every year. And replaced with fat.
The loss of testosterone is seen as loss of energy, stamina, erectile dysfunction in men, decreased sex drive, decreased intimacy, decreased orgasm, being more forgetful, not able to maintain concentration, loss of calcium from the bones (osteoporosis) in men and women, loss of muscle strength, and decreased vitality.
Women depend on progesterone for stability of mood. Progesterone begins to decline by age 35. This is seen as more irritability, poor sleep, depression, anxiety, and hair loss. The menstrual cycles may begin to change. With the loss of progesterone there are more breast cysts, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, and breast cancer.
Estrogen begins to decline very quickly when the ovaries fail. This is usually after age 40 but 8% of women go through menopause before 40. Most have complete failure of the ovaries by 50. This is seen as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, dry skin, thin skin, osteoporosis, urinary leakage, forgetfulness, skin wrinkles, loss of sex drive and inability to have an orgasm. With loss of hormones there is an increase in coronary artery disease and Alzheimer’s. One author said, “Losing our hormones is like a vacuum sweeper sucking the life right out of you.” But the good news is that we do not have to tolerate the ravages of loss of hormones. These hormones can be replaced by natural hormones that are exactly like the hormones you had when you were 25.