You have scheduled a doctor visit for a variety of reasons. There are several different things going on that has begun to alarm you; depression, mood swings, and a couple of times you have had trouble maintaining an erection. You don't know if they are related, but you have a sinking feeling that they are. You have made the trip to the doctor's office because you are tired of feeling a little bit afraid.

They take your vitals and weigh you, nothing different so far. You tell the doctor straight what it is that has been bothering you, and he hasn't made a face like you're a Looney. The doctor goes over a checklist of symptoms, the ADAM which stands for Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male…well, you certainly like the term Andropause better than male menopause…anyway, the doctor explained that this was just a rough estimate and is nowhere near absolute, because most of the symptoms you are having to answer "yes" to: decreased sex drive, lack of energy, decrease in strength and endurance (well, lost height, no…phew), sad and/or grumpy, less strong erections,deterioration in sports ability, falling asleep after dinner, decreased work performance. He said if you said yes to one and seven or said yes to four or more there was probably a problem. The doctor leaves so you can get into the gown without the back.

Next came the examination. The doctor listens to your heart and lungs, taps you here and there, and puts on his glove for the rectal exam. He says he is checking the prostate, to see if it was enlarged or tender. Didn't seem to be. The doctor tells you that there are some lab tests he would like to run and that you could get your blood drawn after you got dressed. The lab guy took several different colored tubes (you know it makes you nervous when they take different tubes). The lab guy explained that different tests need different preparations before the blood can be taken for that test. Well, that's nice to know. If the lab guy had time to talk, he would have told you what the tests are that the doctor had ordered and why he ordered them. He would have told you about the hematocrit tests for red blood cells, the lipid profile for your bad and good cholesterol, cardiac function about your heart, liver function tests for your liver chemistry, PSA measurement for prostate specific antigen for your prostate's chemistry. The doctor is also ordering a testosterone level, to see if your level is low. The doctor will get back with you if there anything wrong. He also said that depending on the testosterone level, he might order some injections to get you back to a normal level, if that is what you want. He said there are lots of things to consider before you took that step.

You know, the wife is always the one who talks to the doctor, what with the kids and all, and you usually contribute some head nodding and nothing much more. But it didn't turn out to be as difficult as you had it built up in your mind it would be. Maybe you can help the doc can help you.