Male Menopause: It Is Real And Can Happen To Any Man

[LoShiNi]

Male menopause is a term, commonly used to describe age-related changes of hormone levels in men. It usually happens in men aged 50 and older. Other names for this phenomenon include ‘testosterone deficiency syndrome’, ‘androgen deficiency of the aging male’, and ‘late-onset male hypogonadism’; medical community prefers the term ‘andropause’.

As men age, their bodies produce less testosterone. As opposed to menopause in women, male menopause happens gradually: The levels of testosterone decrease by 1% every year on average after men turn 30. Certain health conditions can cause an earlier and more rapid reduction of levels of this hormone.

Symptoms of the condition include the following:

- lack of energy;

- depression;

- trouble concentrating;

- sleep problems;

- reduced muscle mass;

- loss of body hair;

- increased body fat;

- growing breasts (gynecomastia);

- decreased bone density;

- erectile dysfunction;

- decreased libido.

Some of these symptoms may be caused by other problems, including side effects of certain drugs, thyroid issues, depression, and alcohol abuse.

If you have the symptoms described above, it’s best to schedule an appointment with your doctor to establish what’s wrong with your health. The doctor will ask you about your symptoms, perform a physical exam, and may order a blood test to determine your testosterone levels.

If your levels of testosterone are too low, your healthcare provider may recommend hormone replacement therapy. Doctors are generally reluctant to prescribe this treatment because of its side effects that include speeding up the growth of existing prostate cancer and increasing the risk of heart problems. If benefits of this therapy outweigh the risks for you personally, it may be an option you would want to consider.

Here’s what you can do to manage male menopause:

- eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly;

- tell your doctor the whole truth about your symptoms – give him or her the complete picture to receive the correct diagnosis and proper treatment;

- sleep well; if you can’t, don’t hesitate to tell your doctor about it;

- try to reduce your levels of stress;

- avoid herbal supplements – their effectiveness is questionable at best, and some of them may even be harmful.