By Dr. Richard Chern, M.D.

Men eventually go through ANDROPAUSE which is basically male menopause. This typically occurs between age 35 & 55 but can occur earlier. This process occurs slowly and symptoms creep into our lives unnoticed until they begin affecting those around us. Symptoms include weight gain, lack of energy, irritability, fatigue, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, loss of muscle mass, reduced exercise tolerance, weight gain, impaired memory, poor concentration, nervousness, depression, insomnia, sweating and the feeling that you are past your prime. Is it any wonder that men go through a midlife crisis?

Testing is easy. We can provide a lab order for you to take to your lab or we can draw your blood at any of our offices. If you have already had your labs drawn you can send them to us for review but often it is best to have labs redone as most offices fail to order everything that is needed. Labs should be drawn in the morning and although fasting is not required it is recommended. At The Hormone Restoration Center we look at testosterone and other labs that are often affected by low testosterone levels.

Treating low testosterone can reduce or eliminate every symptom discussed above; but not all treatments are the same. Some treatments improve symptoms and improve health.
Some treatments improve symptoms but increase the risk for disease and death. For example, research shows that testosterone shots can increase risk for heart attacks, strokes, and death from heart disease. The risks are not the same for every form of testosterone replacement. At The Hormone Restoration Center we use bio-identical testosterone replacement that can help reduce the risk of aggressive prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, muscle loss, osteoporosis and much more.

In addition, estrogen levels are vitally important in the proper treatment of andropause. Unfortunately, many physicians forget to consider this issue or some incorrectly block estrogen production which increases the risk for disease and death.

There are many considerations when treating low testosterone in men. Although symptoms may be universal, treatment MUST be individualized.

Treating testosterone properly should not only resolve your symptoms but also improve your health. At The Hormone Restoration Center we do this every day. We are certified in the use of bio-identical hormones in men and women for the treatment of andropause, menopause and many other conditions.

Dr. Richard Chern, M.D. and Sue Griffin, APRN are currently accepting new patients. Please call (850) 837-1271 for an appointment.

By Jamie C. Williamson, PhD

Couples who play together, stay together, but that doesn’t mean you should treat your marriage like a game. If you treat your marriage like a game, you’ll get played and lose every time.

Couples who “play together” by engaging in fun, novel activities grow closer to each other, experience more positive emotions toward each other and their relationship and, as a result, are happier and want to stay together.

Three Reasons Why Playing Together Helps You Stay Together
First, playing together in novel and arousing activities keeps you (and your spouse) from getting bored and your relationship from becoming a boring routine.

Boredom sacks the current joy out of your relationship and, if not addressed, leads to increasing dissatisfaction over time, the temptation to seek excitement outside the relationship, and/or ultimately the “we’ve just grown apart” explanation for divorce.

Second, playing together also helps you and your spouse connect the good feelings you experience during the activity to your overall relationship.

Third, participating in novel and arousing activities makes people feel happier in general, and when you are a happier person, you are more likely to be a happy partner and extend that positive emotion to your marriage and spouse.

How far do you have to go to keep you and your spouse out of a boring routine?
Off the couch, maybe. But not that far.

Go for a bike ride. Throw a football around. Take a walk on the beach or a canoe ride. Try a stand-up paddle board. A new restaurant. Get to know other couples — new friends you make together.

Remember, marriage is not a game. Both husband and wife are on the same side.
So be sure you aren’t keeping score. If your wife “wins” because you agree to try something new that she recommended, you both win.

And, if your husband “wins” because you agree to try something new that he likes, you also both win.

Here’s a common example for football season (just remember, the point of the story is gender neutral).

If your husband really enjoys watching college football, learn to like it, too, rather than pout and try to make him feel guilty. (You might have to pretend at first). This will add a new activity for you to enjoy together.

In turn, he will naturally connect the fun he has watching the game with you to positive feelings about you. As a result, he will be more likely to want to make you happy and will look for ways to do that – like take a cooking class, or run a 5-K, go with you to church, or start a weekly date night.

Husbands, keep in mind that if you initiate the weekly date night (for example), your wife will transfer her good feeling about that to you and, as a result, be more likely to want to look for novel ways to make you happy, as well.

The point is that if you want to avoid (or get out of) the rut of relationship boredom, you have to play together by engaging in novel and arousing activities. It doesn’t matter who is ahead at the end of the first quarter. You’re both on the home team.

Can the novel and arousing activities involve sex?

Sure. But you are unlikely to be any good at sex play, if you aren’t fully engaged with each other out of the bedroom. And, if you suggest novel sex before you’ve shown a willingness to “get off the couch” your effort will backfire. First things first.

If you are starting to feel bored in your marriage, share this article with your spouse and talk about ways you can add some new activities or people to your life. Discuss how the positive feelings you get from these new experiences will help you grow closer again, increase your relationship satisfaction, and decrease the likelihood that you will “grow apart” (or be tempted to find excitement elsewhere).

Pick a new activity and begin to work it out. If your spouse won’t go along at first, try learning to like something your spouse already enjoys so you can do it together. Then, try to add something novel to you both.

Let me know if I can help.

Jamie C. Williamson, PhD is a FL Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator and Gottman Methods Couples Counselor. She is an owner and partner at Amity Mediation Workshop, LLC, a mediation practice specializing in “friendly divorce” mediation, family mediation, and marriage revitalization sessions for couples. She speaks frequently on Dr. Jamie authors the blog “Work it Out.” You can find her online at amitymediationworkshop.com.