As we discussed in the previous posts, while you get older, your ability to produce testosterone eventually declines. This decrease in testosterone production, associated with normal ageing process, is referred to as andropause or male menopause. In addition to age-related low testosterone, there are certain medical conditions that can cause low testosterone. These medical conditions can begin at any time, and can affect testosterone levels throughout your life.
Some of these conditions are associated with the testicles, pituitary gland and/or hypothalamus (a part of the brain that controls many of the body’s glands). Occasionally, the problem can be genetic.
When you feel that something is wrong with you, and unwanted age-related changes take their toll, you may need to visit your family doctor for assessment, change your lifestyle and diet, and may be consider the special hormone replacement therapy. But the first step would be to perform internal self-assessment and understand your health status for yourself. We offered andropause self tests in the previous posts. Here, we would like to offer well respected rating scale adopted for multiple medical facilities - the AMS (Aging Males' Symptoms) rating scale.
The AMS was developed by ZEG – The Center for Epidemiology and Health Research in Berlin and gained popularity all over the World.
The Ageing Males Symptoms (AMS) questionnaire is a 17 question self-rating symptoms based questionnaire with three key domains of assessment - mind (5 questions), body (7 questions) and sexual (5 questions). Responses to each question are assigned a rating 1-5 (none to extremely severe) and the total sum of all subscales provides a total score. Scores can range from a total low of 17 to a maximum of 85, with a score measuring greater than 50 considered severe.
Questions
- Decline in your feeling of general well-being (general state of health, subjective feeling).
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Joint pain and muscular ache (lower back pain, joint pain, pain in a limb, general back ache).
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Excessive sweating (unexpected/sudden episodes of sweating, hot flushes independent of strain).
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Sleep problems (difficulty in falling asleep, difficulty in sleeping through, waking up early and feeling tired, poor sleep, sleeplessness).
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Increased need for sleep, often feeling tired.
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Irritability (feeling aggressive, easily upset about little things, moody).
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Nervousness (inner tension, restlessness, feeling fidgety).
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Anxiety (feeling panicky).
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Physical exhaustion/lacking vitality (general decrease in performance, reduced activity, lacking interest in leisure activities, feeling of getting less done, of achieving less, of having to force oneself to undertake activities).
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Decrease in muscular strength (feeling of weakness).
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Depressive mood (feeling down, sad, on the verge of tears, lack of drive, mood swings, feeling nothing is of any use).
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Feeling that you have passed your peak.
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Feeling burnt out, having hit rock-bottom.
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Decrease in beard growth.
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Decrease in ability/frequency to perform sexually.
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Decrease in the number of morning erections.
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
- Decrease in sexual desire/libido (lacking pleasure in sex, lacking desire for sexual intercourse).
- None (Score - 1).
- Mild (Score – 2)
- Moderate (Score – 3)
- Severe (Score – 4)
- Extremely Severe (Score – 5)
General Assessment
Calculate the final score, summarizing scores for all answers.
17 to 26 Points: You're fine
27 to 36 Points: You are experiencing minor effects of andropause. Regular exercise regimen, stress control and weight management advised.
37 to 49 Points: You are experiencing significant effects of testosterone deficiency. You need to take care of yourself immediately. Hormone replacement therapy might be adviced.
Over 50 Points: You are experiencing severe symptoms of andropause. Discuss your health with your family doctor and develop an action plan immediately.
Sub-systems Assessment
· To review your Psychological subscale assessment score, summarize the scores for the answers: 6, 7, 8, 11, and 13.
· To review your Somatic subscale assessment score, summarize the scores for the answers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, and 10.
· To review your Sexual subscale assessment score, summarize the scores for the answers: 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17.
· The normal distribution of the scores between the subscales should be as follows: Psychological/Somatic/Sexual as 30/40/30 per cent of total. Check distribution in your case, and you can see, which part of your well-being requires special attention.
Sources and Additional Information:
