Today’s topic is Male Menopause, does it exist?
Recently I was having this discussion with some male colleagues. The general opinion was that men’s testosterone levels slowly decline as they age, but without ‘menopausal like’ symptoms.
After refreshing my knowledge, this is what I can report.
There have been several articles written about this subject. The medical community is debating whether or not men really do go through a well-defined menopause. However there does seem to be some consensus that some men suffer from ‘Andropause’.
Andropause?
This term is used to describe age-related changes in male hormone levels.
The same group of symptoms is also known as testosterone deficiency, androgen deficiency, and late-onset hypogonadism.
Andropause 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.
Typically as men age, their testosterone levels will begin to drop. According to the Mayo Clinic, testosterone levels tend to decline an average of 1% per year after men turn 30. Some health conditions can cause earlier or more drastic declines in the testosterone levels.
Andropause can actually cause physical, sexual, and psychological problems.
As with female menopause, they typically worsen, as you get older.
The symptoms may 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
Some men may also experience swollen or tender ‘breasts’, decreased testicle size, loss of body hair or hot flashes.
Ladies, does this all sound a bit familiar?
Sounds like ‘male menopause’ to me.
Low levels of testosterone associated with andropause 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.
Andropause or 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 the reproductive organs. The testes, unlike the ovaries, do not run out of the substance it needs to make testosterone. It’s well known that a healthy man may be able to make sperm well into his 80s or later.
Well, whether you call it ‘Andropause’ or ‘Male Menopause’, I think it is fair to say that for both sexes, as we get older, our diminishing hormones can make our lives a little challenging.
Till the next post,
Live Clean n Prosper