Manopause? Male Menopause? Yes, andropause is a thing (at least according to many medical authorities). Most of us are roughly familiar with menopause. You may or may not be surprised to discover that men suffer through similar age-related changes called andropause.
With both sexes, changes are related to diminishing sex hormones. In the example of women, it’s estrogen and progesterone. With men, it’s testosterone. One big difference between the male and female experiences is lower testosterone levels don’t prevent men from still being able to have kids. Men can have kids into their 90s.
So the logical question to ask would be is this just the same as low testosterone? Well, not exactly. It’s the confluence of several problems men face with aging, including low testosterone, obesity, diabetes and depression (in those with these conditions). In particular, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes seem to be particular risk factors. The fortunate news is this complex doesn’t occur universally and can be delayed with certain actions.
So what are you to do? For starters, know the symptoms and know when to ask for help. Here are symptoms commonly associated with andropause.
- Depression
- Difficulty sleeping
- Increased body fat, particularly in the midsection
- Irritability
- Less desire for physical activity
- Less energy
- Less erections or less strong erections
- Less mental sharpness and quickness
- Loss of armpit or genital hair
- Loss of confidence
- Loss of interest in regular activities
- Loss of libido
- Night sweats
- Reduced muscle mass
- Social withdrawal
- Swollen breasts
It’s important to get evaluated for these issues because even if these aren’t attributable to andropause, other causes can be even more serious. Examples of conditions that can cause these same symptoms include depression, drug and alcohol abuse, infections, heart disease, poor nutrition, stress and thyroid disease.
When you begin to develop these symptoms, you may discover that diet, exercise and weight control are important in relieving symptoms and slowing the progression of symptoms. Your physician likely will advise the same. In many cases, treating low testosterone is another important component of management. The next few Straight, No Chaser posts will discuss these additional considerations.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
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The decline in testosterone in the 40’s and 50’s colliding with the social pressures of being this strong, powerful, sexual and invulnerable man, create the conflict. Erectile dysfunction gets the most attention but some of the other symptoms are much more important causes of dysfunction in their lives. Great topic to discuss!
Interesting thought, Dr. Anderson. It’s only recently that Low T/Andropause have become discussion topics, with much more of a focus on menopause. There’s a lot of fertile ground in tracking simultaneous hormonal declines and helping couples understand the associated ramifications.