Is there really male menopause?
I realize that Silver & Grace is about the joys and challenges of aging in women, but I figure if Mr. Very Right experiences health challenges, my state of well being will likely be impacted as well. I want us both living vibrant lives well into our senior years.
Also, if your man is like my man, he will downplay any ailments, and ‘tough it out’. So, I like to be informed in order to be the voice of reason.
Is there such a thing as male menopause?
Male menopause was a term commonly used to describe a drop in testosterone as men aged. Using the term menopause, however, suggests that men are experiencing the same physiological changes as women, which is not the case.
Women experience a dramatic plunge in hormone production during menopause, and they cease to be fertile. Men, on the other hand, experience a very gradual decline of testosterone production, and do not lose their fertility.
The term andropause has become the accepted terminology. Other terms are:
- testosterone deficiency;
- androgen decline in the aging male (ADAM);
- late onset hypogonodism.
So what exactly happens to the guys?
After the age of 40, males experience a drop in testosterone levels in the blood. The rate of decline is about 1 percent year. This is due in part to a decrease in testosterone production, but also due to an increase in sex binding hormone globulin (SHBG). SHGB pulls usable testosterone from blood, reducing the availability of that hormone.
Are all men affected?
Only about 30 percent of males experience andropause. Some men can have lower hormone levels and experience no symptoms. Others can have higher levels than the next guy and experience physical and psychological symptoms. It seems that what is a normal level for one man, is not necessarily normal for the next.
It is important, therefore, to have a baseline test of testosterone level done to determine what is normal for the individual. Then if symptoms start to appear, the change in level can be compared to the baseline.
What are the symptoms of andropause?
Most of the symptoms are similar, or the same, as those experienced by women going through menopause:
- reduced sexual desire;
- swollen or tender breasts;
- height loss and thinning bones;
- hot flushes and sweats;
- increased body fat;
- decreased energy, motivation, and self-confidence;
- feeling sad or depressed;
- mood swings;
- poor concentration and memory;
- sleep apnea or other sleep problems.
Others are more specific to men:
- small or shrinking testes;
- low red blood cell count (mild anemia);
- reduced muscle bulk and strength;
- diminished physical or work performance;
- reduced muscle bulk and strength.
Is there treatment for andropause?
Again, there is a similarity to menopause in the prevention and improvement of symptoms:
- healthy diet;
- exercise, which includes aerobic, strength and resistance training;
- proper sleep;
- reduced stress;
- sexual activity.
There is testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) available, although the long term effects are yet unknown. And, anyone with prostate cancer, breast cancer, or heart disease should not be using TRT. As with any treatment, a health care provider should be consulted.
Could your man be experiencing something other than andropause?
Andropause has symptoms similar to other conditions, and they need to ruled out before any treatment for andropause is prescribed:
- liver disease;
- kidney failure;
- side effects of medication;
- excessive alcohol use;
- illegal drug use;
- depression or emotional distress;
- diabetes;
- high blood pressure.
Mr. Very Right leads a pretty healthy and active life, but I will certainly be passing along this information to him. And if he starts to complain of any of these symptoms, I will be sending him off to his doctor. Just like women preventing and treating menopause symptoms in order to live a full life, our men should be doing the same when it comes to andropause.
Suggested reading:
About Andropause
The Facts on Andropause
Male menopause: Myth or reality?
Your turn:
- Does the man in your life keep informed on health concerns associated with aging?
- Does he lead a healthy lifestyle, or is there room for improvement?
I was a bit surprise to know that men did experience the female version of menopause. Mother Nature is not impartial to just women after all
. I actually stumbled on an article on BodyLogicMD.com : http://www.bodylogicmd.com/for-men/manopause-and-his-ugly-brothers which indicated that men did have andropause. Imagine my surprise indeed…good thing is there is treatment for that just as there is treatment for menopause.
@Mickey – only makes sense really that men’s hormones would decline with age as well. It’s just much more subtle. And as with women, the first line of defence is a healthy lifestyle including proper diet and plenty of exercise. To modify another saying “Mother Nature takes care of those who take care of themselves’
yes, of course. Since men do not go through a well-defined period referred to as menopause, some physicians refer to this problem as androgen (testosterone) decline in the aging male. Men do experience a decline in the production of the male hormone testosterone with aging, but this also occurs with some disease states such as diabetes. Along with the decline in testosterone, some men experience symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, depression and sexual problems. The relationship of these symptoms to the decreased testosterone levels is still controversial.
Unlike menopause in women which represents a well-defined period in which hormone production stops completely, male hormone (testosterone) decline is a slower process. The testes, unlike the ovary, does not run out of the substance it needs to make testosterone. A healthy male may be able to make sperm well into his eighties or longer.
However, as a result of disease, subtle changes in the function of the testis may occur as early as 45 to 50 years of age, and more dramatically after the age of 70 in some men.