Bill Rayl, 58, told NBC 7/39 he credits it with changing his life. Rayl said he looks forward to exercise, has vigor, energy and muscles. He said he feels better than he did eight years ago.

"I was wearing a 40-inch pant at that time and didn't have the energy to exercise a great deal," Rayl said.

Kevin Lester is Rayl's doctor at Cenegenics, an age-management program.

"Andropause is the normal depletion of male hormones that occur in every man," Lester said.

He said men's testosterone is highest at age 30 and every year after, they lose between one and three percent. By the time some men are 50, they might experience depression, the inability to exercise or recover quickly from exercise or develop muscle tone, said Lester.

As part of his therapy, Rayl takes three pills and rubs testosterone on his skin. They're not the high levels some athletes are accused of taking, but a measured amount.

"We know what high normal is, and that's what we're looking for -- high normal for your age. And a man feels better at high normal for his age," said Lester.

Lester calls the prescription a "hormone symphony," one which includes human growth hormone -- the controversial drug pitcher Roger Clemens is accused of taking.

"The important part of a well-managed medical care program is not the abuse of drugs -- it's the use of drugs in a healthy way," said Lester.

Rayl added it to his hormone symphony, but stopped because he said he didn't see any additional benefit.

Dr. Jeffrey Sandler, an endocrinologist, said HGH can grow unwanted cells -- and while testosterone is indicated for some symptomatic men -- he would not recommend it for anti-aging. He also said while there is no evidence testosterone causes prostate cancer, it can enlarge the prostate.

Lester said the prostate's condition is evaluated, during treatment, and along with the lab, there are clinical evaluations.

"Aging is absolutely natural. We're not trying to stop aging but if we can affect it in a nice way that's really good," Lester said.

The cost of Cenegenics is $3,000 for an all-day evaluation, plus whatever prescribed drugs are needed. It is not covered by insurance.

Sandler said if you are a man with Andropause symptoms, you should see a doctor to determine if testosterone levels are too low for your age group.

Source: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/