BURLINGTON, Ontario – April 7, 2004 – The Masters Men’s Clinic, a clinic solely dedicated to the science of andropause, has officially opened its door in Burlington today. Although considered a normal progression, the aging process in men leads to a gradual lowering of testosterone. This process, which occurs over many years, may result in a condition called hypogonadism that is commonly referred to as Andropause. The decline can actually put men at risk of other health related problems, like heart disease or osteoporosis. The Masters Men’s Clinic is uniquely designed to address and treat andropause and is the second clinic of this nature in Canada.

"There are many parallels that can be drawn between menopause and andropause, as the two conditions share many symptoms," says Dr. Larry D. Komer, Medical Director of the Masters Men’s Clinic. "Andropause is just beginning to be explored and the understanding and acceptance of andropause is where menopause was 20 years ago. A tremendous amount of education and research is necessary to further the understanding of this area of male’s health."

Tens of thousands of men are suffering from andropause. Whereas it was originally thought that it affected men over 50, men as young as 25 are now experiencing symptoms of the condition, although the incidence of andropause increases with age. Because it is harder to track, the long-term effects of andropause can have serious health consequences in a man’s life. Although apparent symptoms such as a decline in libido or erectile dysfunction, a decrease in overall energy, changes in mood and depression, joint and muscle ache, loss of strength and sleep disturbance can really have an impact on the quality of life, the risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis increase in men with andropause and should be closely monitored. Often physicians will treat each symptom separately without treating the cause, which is a low testosterone level.

"The diagnosis of andropause is not so simple as doing a single blood test," points out Dr. Komer. "As a matter of fact, some blood tests can be misleading, suggesting the man does not have andropause when in fact he does. The diagnosis is made from a combination of certain blood tests and a detailed questionnaire entitled the Masters Andropause Screening Index (MASI) developed by the Masters Men’s Clinic’s team. The questionnaire is completed again after a treatment has been initiated to quantify the level of improvement. Whether an hormone replacement therapy is required, is a question that needs to be discussed with the physician and tailored to each individual patient," indicates Dr. Komer.

Restoring testosterone can have a significant benefit in men with an improvement in well-being, sex drive and sexual function, muscle mass and strength and an increase in bone density.

Uniquely designed with clinical and research capabilities, the Masters Men’s Clinic is only the second clinic in Canada dedicated to the science of andropause. With the opening of this rather unique clinic, Dr. Komer and his team will continue to demystify andropause by educating men and treating low levels of testosterone.

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