What Is Male Menopause

What Is Male Menopause

Till now, Menopause was thought to be something that is associated only with women. However, there is a growing breed of doctors who recognize a menopause-like stage in the life-cycle of men also. Infact, doctors are today getting cases of males who are experiencing some of the same symptoms that trouble women during menopause. Still, the medical community has not formed a consensus on the existence of male menopause.

Infact, they have given the menopause-like symptoms the name of androgen (testosterone) decline in the aging male. This is because unlike female menopause, the one in males represents a very slow decline in the levels of testosterone. At the same time, in case of female menopause, hormone production stops completely. However, in males, the testes do not run out of the substance needed to produce testosterone.

It is just that with progressing age, a male undergoes the process of reduction in the production of the male hormone. More often than not, such reduction is accompanied with some diseases like diabetes. Such a condition is usually seen in males between the ages of 40 and 55. Thus, we can say that male menopause basically comprises of the hormonal, physiological and chemical changes that occur in all men, with time, leading to a reduced sex drive.

Signs and Symptoms of Male Menopause

The following signs and symptoms are associated with the onset of menopause in a male.

• Decline in sports ability
• Fall in work performance
• Feeling sleepy immediately after dinner
• Irritability and short temper
• Lack of interest in life
• Lessening of strength and/or endurance.
• Lethargy and low levels of energy
• Loss in height
• Reduced sex drive
• Weak erection

Causes of Male Menopause

Though male menopause is mainly associated with progressing age, a number of other factors have been found to accelerate the process. These are:

• Hypertension
• Hypothalamic slowness
• Lack of exercise
• Obesity
• Poor blood circulation
• Poor diet
• Prescription and non-prescription medications
• Psychological problems, mainly mid-life depression/crisis
• Smoking
• Too much alcohol consumption