Male Menopause

Just as women, as they grow older, experience changes due to a drop in their hormonal levels, many men are also reporting similar symptoms as they age. While it is clear that the changes women experience are because they are approaching menopause, the medical community is still debating about whether the symptoms men go through are because they are going through what can be defined as male menopause.

Women have a clearly defined end of their fertile period after their ovaries stop producing hormones that will help them reproduce. A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have, and these either get used or discarded in the course of her reproductive life. Once her ovaries discontinue the production of estrogen and progesterone, any remaining eggs are also discarded and the woman stops having regular menstrual periods. Once this stage is reached, the woman is said to have gone through menopause. While some women just stop having periods, others experience various symptoms that indicate approaching menopause.

Men, on the other hand, have no clearly-defined end time to their ability to produce healthy sperm. The decline in the ability of the testes to produce testosterone (androgen) is a slow process and occurs gradually. In fact, a healthy male can produce sperm well into his eighties, and in some cases, even longer.

Since men, as they age, do not have a clear end to their fertility, some members of the medical fraternity refer to the decline in testosterone (androgen) and the resulting changes, as male menopause or andropause. These changes occur gradually over time and a decline in testosterone may include changes in erectile function, production of sperm or changes in testicular tissue. As a result of these changes, men going through male menopause may experience symptoms such as fatigue, lack of energy, weakness, depression, decreased libido and other sexual problems like impotence.

A decline in testosterone may not always be due to aging alone. Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and hypertension and the medications to treat these diseases can also lead to andropause. It is a myth that common symptoms of male menopause means that testosterone levels are low. It is important to work with your health provider to find out the the real reasons for your experiencing the symptoms and to find out if your testosterone levels are low. Diagnostic tests, including blood tests to find out hormonal levels (including blood testosterone levels), will help determine whether low testosterone production is the cause of your experiencing symptoms of male menopause.

Like women undergo hormone replacement therapy to compensate for diminished hormone levels, Testosterone Replacement Therapy is sometimes used to combat symptoms like fatigue, depression and decreased libido. However, Testosterone Replacement Therapy carries with it the potential for suffering side effects like worsening of prostate cancer, for example.

Consulting your health provider is imperative before undertaking Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Sometimes, lifestyle changes like a new diet or exercise regimen, or changing your medication can help deal with symptoms of male menopause. The bottom line here is, don’t try to treat yourself, consult your medical adviser if you have concerns about male menopause.