Andropause: Beyond Testosterone Decline with Emma Sutherland and Dr Leah Hechtman
Dr Leah Hechtman, one of Australia’s most respected naturopathic educators, joins fx Medicine by BioCeuticals ambassador Emma Sutherland to discuss the often-overlooked stage of men’s health: andropause. More than simply “low testosterone,” andropause reflects age-related changes including Leydig cell decline, metabolic changes, vascular shifts, and neurological alterations that shape male wellbeing across the lifespan.
Leah outlines how andropause may present in practice, from body composition changes and hair greying to mood shifts, sleep disruption, prostate dysfunction, and reduced cognitive performance. She highlights the importance of comprehensive testing — extending beyond testosterone — to include oestrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), insulin, leptin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and DUTCH hormone analysis. These insights allow clinicians to identify early signs and develop a more complete picture of male ageing.
The discussion also explores strategies that may support resilience, including optimising sleep, managing stress, and addressing metabolic health. Useful complementary medicines include nutritional considerations such as nicotinamide riboside, bioflavonoids, and zinc, as well as herbal medicines including ginkgo, grape seed extract, ashwagandha, and tribulus. The role of prostate health and testosterone therapy is also discussed.
Covered in this episode:
(01:01) Welcome Leah Hechtman
(02:22) What is andropause?
(05:16) Testosterone production and ageing
(09:55) Andropause symptoms
(14:28) Infertility
(20:28) Autophagy, ageing and reproductive disorders
(24:23) Obesity and sleep
(30:53) Stress and testosterone
(32:24) Prostate cancer
(36:37) Erectile dysfunction
(39:51) Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)
(44:37) Intermittent fasting
(48:00) Testosterone receptor sensitivity
(50:42) Final remarks
Find today's transcript and show notes here:
https://www.bioceuticals.com.au/education/podcasts/andropause-beyond-testosterone-decline
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