What Is Male Menopause?
What Is Male Menopause?
Male menopause” is the more common term for andropause. It describes age-related changes in male hormone levels. The same group of symptoms is also known as testosterone deficiency, androgen deficiency, and late-onset hypogonadism. Male menopause involves a drop in testosterone production in men who are age 50 or older. It’s often affiliated with hypogonadism. Both conditions involve lowered testosterone levels and similar symptoms.
If you’re a man, testosterone is a hormone produced in your testes. It does more than fuel your sex drive. It also fuels changes during puberty, fuels your mental and physical energy, maintains your muscle mass, regulates your fight-or-flight response, and regulates other key evolutionary features.
Male menopause differs from female menopause in several ways. For one thing, not all men experience it. For another, it doesn’t involve a complete shutdown of your reproductive organs. However, sexual complications may arise as a result of your lowered hormone levels.
Symptoms of Male Menopause
Male menopause can cause physical, sexual, and psychological problems. They typically worsen as you get older. They can include:
low energy
depression or sadness
decreased motivation
lowered self-confidence
difficulty concentrating
insomnia or difficulty sleeping
increased body fat
reduced muscle mass and feelings of physical weakness
gynecomastia, or development of breasts
decreased bone density
erectile dysfunction
reduced libido
infertility
You may also experience swollen or tender breasts, decreased testicle size, loss of body hair, or hot flashes. Low levels of testosterone associated with male menopause have also been linked to osteoporosis. This is a condition where your bones become weak and brittle. These are rare symptoms. They typically affect men at the same age as women entering menopause.
Changes in Testosterone Over the Years
Before you hit puberty, your testosterone levels are low. Then they increase as you sexually mature. Testosterone is the hormone that fuels typical changes involved in male puberty, such as:
growth of your muscle mass
growth of your body hair
lowering of your voice
changes in your sexual functioning.
As you age, your testosterone levels will typically begin to drop. According to the Mayo Clinic, testosterone levels tend to decline an average of 1 percent per year after men turn 30. Some health conditions can cause earlier or more drastic declines in your testosterone levels.
Diagnosing and Treating Male Menopause
Your doctor can take a sample of your blood to test your testosterone levels. Unless male menopause is causing you severe hardship or disrupting your life, you’ll probably manage your symptoms without treatment. The biggest hurdle in treating male menopause may be talking to your doctor about your symptoms. Many men are too intimidated or shy to discuss sexual topics with their doctors. The most common type of treatment for symptoms of male menopause is making healthier lifestyle choices. For example, your doctor might advise you to:
eat a healthy diet
get regular exercise
get enough sleep
reduce your stress
These lifestyle habits can benefit all men. After adopting these habits, men who are experiencing symptoms of male menopause may see a dramatic change in their overall health. If you’re experiencing depression, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants, therapy, and lifestyle changes. Hormone replacement therapy is another treatment option. However, it’s very controversial. Like performance-enhancing steroids, synthetic testosterone can have damaging side effects. For example, if you have prostate cancer, it may cause your cancer cells to grow. If your doctor suggests hormone replacement therapy, weigh all of the positives and negatives before making your decision.
Outlook
It’s normal to experience a decline in your testosterone levels as you get older. For many men, the symptoms are manageable, even without treatment. If your symptoms are causing you hardship, speak to your doctor. They can provide recommendations to help you manage or treat your symptoms.
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John Bellamy Comments: I have been to the doctor on several occasions about my suffering from appalling hot sweats and so forth and not once - NOT ONCE - did they believe me when I stated I thought I had ANDROPAUSE / THE MALE MENOPAUSE - and once I was sent for a blood test and a chest X Ray - although not sure what the chest X Ray could show when CLEARLY I have a hormonal imbalance - and even the blood test came back negative, which tells me the NHS DOES NOT TAKE MENS HEALTH AS SERIOUSLY AS THEY DO WOMEN.
I have suffered really badly with this for over 20 years and it is getting worse. The hot sweats come on at a moments notice and while standing in the queue in Tesco recently I suddenly was aware that I was - INSTANTLY - soaking wet - my clothes were covered in sweat and my head was spinning and I was a bit vacant - and a general feeling of wanting to sit and sleep and just crawl into a corner and cuddle myself covered in a big towel... and yet I cannot. My whole body shakes from within and my whole concentration levels drop, my energy levels vanish and I feel exhausted and even lifting an arm takes extra effort - AND STILL THE DOCTOR TELLS ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WHEN CLEARLY - THERE DAMNED WELL IS.
So this week I sent away for a private blood test which was £120 and tells me all sorts of things and if and when I get it and do it and receive the results, I shall tell you what was found , as the NHS says there is nothing wrong and I feel the NHS are copping out and avoiding spending some money on me and that sucks.
The MALE MENOPAUSE IS REAL GUYS.
It is not my imagination.
John Bellamy
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