Male Menopause: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

What is Male Menopause

Male menopause is the same as andropause. It is a medical condition that happens when an older man has a change in testosterone levels. The symptoms are also known by many other names, like “testosterone deficiency” or “androgen deficiency”.

male menopause

Male menopause is when a man’s hormone production drops. It can happen when a man is 50 years old or older. Male menopause is often related to hypogonadism. Both conditions involve lower levels of testosterone and similar symptoms.

If you are a man, testosterone is a hormone that is made in your testicles. It does more than make you want to have sex. It also helps with puberty changes, gives you energy, helps your muscles stay strong and keeps them working well. Testosterone also makes things happen when people are scared to react quickly, like running away or fighting back.

Related: What Happens When a Man’s Testosterone is Low?

Male menopause is different from female menopause in several ways. For one thing, not all men experience it. For another, it does not involve a total shutdown of your reproductive organs. But some sexual complications can arise because of your low hormone levels.

Unlike menopause in women, andropause happens slowly. Andropause starts with a man’s testosterone levels getting lower, and they don’t have symptoms right away.

The Causes of Male Menopause

Male menopause is mostly associated with age-related changes in men. Male hormones can change as a person gets older. But this is not the most common cause of male menopause.

There are four main reasons for andropause. They include:

1. Late On-Set Hypogonadism

Many different things can happen to a man’s body as he gets older. One of these things is called andropause. This is when males start to produce less testosterone. This is natural and usually happens because the reproductive cells get old or lose function. The pervasiveness of hypogonadism varies, but it’s estimated that about 1 in 5 men aged over 35 have testosterone deficiency in their body, which is called hypogonadism (or HIM).

Doctors suggest different ways to diagnose late-onset hypogonadism. But the most common one is when a male has three sexual-related issues and has an androgen level lower than 11 nanomoles per litre (nmol).

2. Physiological Issues

There are psychological and physical causes of sexual problems. For example, some people have anxiety or stress-related problems that can cause low libido, mood swings, or erectile dysfunction. Other people might have a physical problem. For example, the nitric oxide levels in your blood might be lower than normal, or your blood vessels might not be able to open up enough for blood to get all the way through them to their genitals.

A ‘mid-life crisis’ may also cause male menopause. When a man is about halfway through his life, he might be feeling like he has not reached his personal or career milestones. He may become depressed, and this can lead to symptoms of ADAM.

3. Lifestyle Triggers

Today, there is a lot of pressure to succeed in life. Many people focus on money and ignore their health. It can cause male menopause. Some causes of male menopause are lifestyle-related things like:

  • Work or relationship stressors
  • Divorce-related stress
  • ‘Money moods (financial stresses)’
  • Insomnia
  • Poor diet
  • Obesity
  • Low self-esteem
  • Excessive consumption of alcohol
  • Smoking

4. Underlying Health Conditions

Some men might have problems with their health, which can cause them to stop having children. Some of the most unspoken causes of male menopause are health-related issues like testicular cancer and the surgical removal of the testes. Researchers also say that prostate cancer patients who get regular hormone therapy might also experience andropause. Other reasons for this condition include type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, or high blood pressure.

Male Menopause Symptoms

Although symptoms of andropause vary from one person to the other, common symptoms include:

  • Depression
  • Sexual-related issues
  • Fatigue
  • Abdominal density
  • Insomnia

In addition to these symptoms that only men have, menopause can also lead to other problems like loss of muscle mass and strength. Men can also get osteoporosis and heart problems.

You Must Read: Best Testosterone Booster In 2021

Therefore, if you are feeling symptoms of andropause, make sure that you see a doctor. Doctors who are experienced in male menopause treatment will be able to help manage it.

Treatment for Male Menopause

Your doctor can take a sample of your blood to test your testosterone levels. If you have male menopause, it might be hard for you, and it can make you sick. Male menopause is when the man’s hormone levels drop too low. This can be really tough, but some treatments will help.

It is also hard for the man to talk about sexual topics with their doctors because they are shy or afraid. Most of the time, they don’t need treatment, though, because they manage independently without any problems or anything like that happening.

The most common way to treat symptoms of male menopause is by making healthier lifestyle choices.

As you get older, you may have a decline in testosterone levels. It is normal for some men to experience these symptoms. But it is not always bad and can be managed without treatment for many people. If your symptoms are causing trouble, talk to your doctor, who will give you suggestions on managing or treating the problems that are happening.

About Mikael Gomez


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