Male Menopause: Men Experience a Form of Menopause too

Male menopause is a real issue with aging men. Some women take great lengths to protect their bodies or just to make themselves feel better while they’re going through menopause. There are products, therapies, and specific diets all designed to help women cope with this change, but there’s little mention of the fact that men can go through the same type of change. This change, called Andropause, includes annoying physical symptoms and the increased risk of serious problems, just like menopause. It’s time we paid a little more attention to this common problem.

Andropause occurs about the same time as menopause, between the ages of 40 and 55. It is caused by a drop in testosterone; the male hormone. Like women, all men experience a drop in hormone levels; however not all men experience the same rate of decrease and few have symptoms that are severe enough to seek treatment. Common symptoms of andropause include:

Fatigue and general loss of energy
Decreased sex drive
Loss of physical abilities (decreased strength and muscle mass)
Change in mood and disposition
Increased body fat in the upper body and midsection

Women are generally aware they are menopausal symptoms because they begin to have fluctuations in their menstrual cycle. Andropause is different, the symptoms come one slowly and there isn’t one surefire indicator to show onset. That’s why it’s important to be able to recognize the symptoms so treatment can be started as soon as possible.

Just like menopause, andropause not only presents with annoying symptoms, it also comes with an increased risk for developing serious problems. Men with decreased testosterone levels are at an increased risk for osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

Severe andropause can be treated through hormone replacement therapy just as menopause is in women. Replacing lost testosterone can cause a remarkable improvement in the symptoms of many men and has been shown to decrease the risk of heart disease as well; however, it is not for everyone. You should not have this therapy if you have had breast or prostate cancer. Your doctor may also not want you to use testosterone replacement therapy if you have liver, heart, or kidney disease, edema, an enlarged prostate, or diabetes. You may also not be able to have this therapy if you wish to have children, have had an allergic reaction to certain medications, or if you are on certain medications. Your doctor should discuss your medical history with you and determine if you might benefit from this treatment.

While male menopause is a very common problem in men, it has gone unnoticed in the general public for a long time. If you have these symptoms, you should seek treatment and see if their may be help for you.

Male Menopause: Men Experience a Form of Menopause too

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