If somebody makes a list with commonly used terms which describe the appearance of ageing, he will be surprised to meet words referring to the sagging of skin with loss of its suppleness, to the drooping of the erect penile and to the humped neck in some older women.

The above list is a confirmation that biological rather than chronological age reflects the speed of aging and life expectancy. Biological age can be quantified in many values of function, such as high blood pressure, low pulmonary function and the speed of reflex responses.

Whether we like or not, there is big amount of true in the list. When body become older, both central and peripheral nervous systems are severely affected loosing its cortical neurons. This loss is partly replaced by new inter-neuronal connections, but the fact is the accuracy for vision, touch, pressure, taste, hearing, and joint sense are significant reduced.

In both sexes loss receptor sites occur in brain, heart, muscle, bone, skin and urogenital tract. As the glands of the penis are amongst the most richly enervated zones of the body this loss of sensitivity by as much as a third occurs by the andropause.

The transitory symptoms of andropause in men could include fatigue, memory problems, loss of libido and depression. The long-term effects of andropause affect all male population eventually, as progression of andropause can lead to osteoporosis (bone loss), frailty, falls, dementia, heart and circulatory problems. And circulatory problems are the origin of erectile dysfunction.

Valerian D is a freelance writer interested in health issues affecting men such as andropause and erectile dysfunction