While menopause is typically something associated with women, there is such a thing as “male menopause” and it may be more common than you think. In fact, it is estimated that male menopause may affect over 50% of men over the age of 40.

Menopause in males is caused by the same thing that causes it in females - the change in hormone levels as our bodies age.  It can cause some similar symptoms in men and is sometimes referred to as andropause, as it is associated with declining levels of testosterone or androgen in the body. Men who are experiencing menopause might have mood swings, irritability, loss of sexual drive, fatigue and anxiety.

Unlike menopause in women, menopause in males is not as cut and dried. Although hormone levels start to decrease around the same age frame as they do in women, there are no solid signs and men may be left to feel that they are simply having a midlife crisis and not attribute their symptoms to an actual physical condition. Males experiencing symptoms can be tested for testosterone levels as well as other hormone levels to determine if they are, in fact experiencing male menopause.

Male menopause can, in fact, cause health problems much like it does in women. The decline in testosterone levels can put men at risk for heart disease and bone weakness.

Menopause in men is usually a much more gradual process than it is in women. It may happen over a span of decades in some men. Some may experience no symptoms while others experience them vividly. While it is a fact that testosterone levels will decline in all men, not all men will experience any symptoms.

Why haven’t we heard more about male menopause?

Menopause in males, or andropause, is not a new phenomenon it’s been happening since the beginning of time and has been seen in medical literature as early as the 1940s. However, it hasn’t really gotten as much press as female menopause and until recently diagnostic procedures had not been well developed. Add that to the fact that symptoms can be very vague and not all men have them and you can see why we haven’t heard too much about it.

Today, male menopausal treatment consists mainly of testosterone replacement therapy. This can be risky and should not be taken by men who have breast or prostate cancer. Other health conditions which might eliminate you as a candidate for testosterone replacement include heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, edema, diabetes or enlarged prostate.

For men who don’t want to take hormone replacement, incorporating some lifestyle changes will help alleviate symptoms. These include eating a healthy diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and lean meats, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, getting regular exercise and eliminating stress from your life. Sounds like the same healthy habits that can help women have an easier menopause, doesn’t it?

Tags: male menopause, andropause