Male Menopause

Yes, it is a thing. Ever heard of a midlife crisis? Well, the reason your husband suddenly decided to buy a motorcycle is because he is going through so-called male menopause, also called Andropause.

While it is not exactly the same thing as the menopause women go through, it does share some of the symptoms and effects. For instance, it does not happen over a clearly defined period like female menopause, but it does however involve fluctuating hormones.

So What Is Male Menopause?

Male menopause, or Andropause, is when the male hormone called testosterone starts to decrease. This happens less rapidly than the decrease of estrogen in women, and it starts around the age of 30 where after it gradually decreases more and more. Apart from the decrease in testosterone levels, men may experience other symptoms that can conclude:

Increased fatigue
Physical weakness
Depression
Sexual problems like erectile dysfunction and loss of libido

In Andropause, unlike menopause, the hormone production does not come to a complete halt. It just slowly starts to decline. This means that even though it might become increasingly difficult, a man may be able to produce sperm up until the age of 80 years old. A decrease in the function of the testes may become more evident between the ages of 45 and 50, and dramatically after the age of 60.

How Do I Get Diagnosed For Andropause?

A trip to the doctor who knows what theyre doing will do the trick. The doctor will then

Perform a physical exam
Ask about symptoms you are experiencing
Conduct other tests to make sure the problem is not due to another underlying medical issue
Do blood tests that include measuring testosterone levels

How Can Male Menopause Be Treated?

As with female menopause, male menopause can be treated with hormone replacement therapy BUT this should be a lost resort! Hormone replacement therapy may include the risk of developing other health problems, of which one of the scariest is prostate cancer. So what should you do? Well, we recommend the natural route to increase testosterone because of the side effects of the chemical treatments. We suggest certain lifestyle changes to help reverse the symptoms of male menopause. These include: