Have you ever watched a travel show about Spain and seen the annual “Running of the Bulls.” Well, if you’re a middle-aged guy and your first thought is, “Hey, how much is a flight to Pamplona?” then you’re among the elite few whose testosterone level is functioning way above the normal level for men your age. But if, from the comfort of a well-worn Laz-Z-Boy®, you watch the action and reflect on a time when you could have done that, then you may be suffering from Late-onset Hypogonadism; often referred to as “Andropause“. Andropause, a.k.a. Male Menopause, is a syndrome caused by an age-related decline in the production of hormones, chiefly testosterone. According to WebMD Health News, more than 1/3 of men over age 45 may have Low Testosterone, but only a small percentage are being treated. This condition is often overlooked because men frequently ignore symptoms, considering them a natural part of the aging process.

Bull! In recent years, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has been recognized as the most effective method of preventing, delaying, or providing relief from a veritable laundry list of symptoms associated with Andropause. Simply put, testosterone and hGH therapy are the answer to keeping the aging adult male on top of his game, providing him an opportunity to perform at the level he did when he was in his twenties; to keep him “Running with the Bulls” in a manner of speaking.

Optimizing male hormones drives the thirst for competition, the desire to test oneself against another, to enjoy the nightlife, and restores the will to work hard and play hard.

Until Andropause became widely accepted as a condition that can seriously impact men’s health and quality-of-life, modern middle-aged man, "Homo-Erectus” (Erectus? Maybe not so much, lately.), were grouped in the same category as the prehistoric dinosaurs; sinking slowly into a tar-pit of obsolescence. In the workplace it’s always, “Let’s bring in some new blood, fresh eyes.” Translation: “Bring in someone younger, someone with more energy; someone who is hungrier, more aggressive, with more confidence.”

Of course by “Running with the Bulls” we obviously don’t mean hopping on a plane to Spain and risking life and limb to get your adrenaline fix. Instead, it’s a metaphor for staying competitive, keeping your edge, and continuing to compete with younger rivals, whether it’s in matters of the boardroom, or the bedroom.

Thanks to advances in hormone replacement therapy and the broad acceptance of these treatments fueled by high-profile individuals like Oprah, Dr. Oz, and Suzanne Somers; in today’s world, fifty isn’t the new “forty,” it’s the new “thirty!” Middle-aged men are no longer content to deny themselves the pleasure of engaging in activities that may have no greater purpose than just being something fun to do. Recreational pastimes that fulfill the essential male need for adventure and physical aggressiveness. With sensible, supervised hormone optimization the middle-aged bull no longer has to count the days until he’s put out to pasture.

Age is no longer a reason for the experienced, seasoned individual to bow out of life’s competitive arena.