Andropause

What you need to know about male menopause

Andropause (otherwise known as male menopause) has always existed, but only within the last several years has it been widely recognized the medical community. Male menopause occurs when androgen (a hormone) decreases. This happens as a natural part of aging, but often it causes symptoms in men that can mirror the symptoms women have during menopause.

Andropause generally lasts longer than menopause as well, because the decrease in testosterone is much more gradual in men compared to the sharper drop in estrogen caused by menopause. And unlike menopause, there’s no marker announcing its onset, like the cessation of the menstrual period in women.

Male Menopause Symptoms

While there’s no certain age where andropause hits, it’s more likely to affect men between 40 and 55 years of age. Signs of andropause may include:

• Fatigue
• Loss of energy
• Loss of motivation
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• A change in life outlook and attitude
• Decreased sex drive or difficulty achieving and maintaining an erection

Just as some women have few problems during menopause and others require medical intervention to manage the symptoms, male menopause treatment isn’t required for all men going through male menopause. The severity of symptoms varies with no rhyme or reason, though those in poor health may naturally feel symptoms more intensely than those who eat right, get exercise and have no ongoing health conditions.

Male Menopause Treatment

The first step in getting treatment is admitting there’s a problem. Some may think that these feelings aren’t important, that they’ll go away. Or they’re embarrassed to see a doctor about mood swings or erection problems. But because andropause typically strikes when big life changes are happening or impending, such as children moving out of the house, retirement and other big changes, it’s often overlooked as a source of problems.

But when the testosterone levels drop enough to cause symptoms, that’s when other conditions are more likely as well. A visit to the doctor is a good idea to check for a variety of things and give you a plan to manage your health in the coming years. Maintaining good men’s sexual health is an important issue, one that goes far beyond worries about occasional impotence or stamina. Problems should be looked into to rule other possible and more serious causes than andropause.

Blood tests that check testosterone levels can indicate whether male menopause treatment is in order. If so, then your doctor will determine if you’re a good candidate for testosterone replacement therapy.