Ten to forty percent of men will experience a testosterone deficit. Other names for this condition include andropause, late-onset hypogonadism, and androgen insufficiency, but the most well-known one is male menopause. Here is all the information you need to know about it.
Why Male Menopause Is Not Talked About
Several causes drive the lack of information about male menopause.
First, males are less likely than women to visit their doctors for routine checks.
Men with health issues are much less likely than women to have recently consulted a doctor, according to research published in The National Library of Medicine (NLM). Men don't visit the doctor as frequently as women do, making the chances for these phase-of-life chats less common.
Another difficulty is that males do not feel as comfortable talking to a doctor about private subjects like sexual dysfunction or mental health difficulties.
According to a Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation study, approximately 37% of men say they feel uncomfortable discussing sexual matters with their doctor. And according to the NLM, men are less likely than women to seek mental health care.
Male menopause symptoms frequently revolve around these two problems: sexual dysfunction and mental health decrease. Menopause is not frequently detected in men, which is not unexpected.
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What Does Male Menopause Really Mean?
The easiest way to think of male menopause is as reverse puberty. Boys' bodies produce more testosterone as they get closer to puberty. The following stage is a rise in sexual function, an increase in body hair, a decrease in voice, and an increase in muscle mass.
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Men may experience a loss of muscular mass, a loss of body hair, and even a decrease in libido drive due to
low testosterone levels during male menopause. There is, however, more to it than that.
According to MayoClinic, males aged 30 and older have an annual decline in testosterone levels of 1%. The decline may occur more quickly when a man enters male menopause (about age 50 and up). So, males may suddenly go through more severe versions of the modest physical and mental changes they have been experiencing for years.
What Distinctions Exist Between Male and Female Menopause?
Male and female menopause share certain commonalities but also significant distinctions.
Men who have gone through menopause can have kids. The complete shutdown of the reproductive organs is brought on by female menopause. A woman is no longer able to become pregnant after menopause. Most men can theoretically reproduce far into their later years.
Male menopause develops gradually. Similar to male menopause, female menopause entails a reduction in certain hormone levels. Women, on the other hand, experience the hormonal transition quickly. For men, the transition may occur gradually over several years.
Not all males experience it. The main distinction is that while menopause affects women, it does not affect all men.
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Menopause In Males: Symptoms
Male vitality, physical stamina, muscle mass, and the flight-or-fight reaction are all influenced by testosterone levels. Therefore, as they drop, the following signs could manifest:
- Depression
- Fatigue
- A low sense of self
- Sleep problems
- Gaining weight
- Male breast development
- Poor libido
- A challenge getting an erection
- Reduced testicle size
- Loss of body hair
- A hot flash
- Low bone mass
Menopause Treatment for Males
Unless male menopause significantly impairs a patient's quality of life, most doctors won't recommend anything more than simple lifestyle modifications. These could consist of the following:
- Increasing sleep
- Increasing activity, especially weightlifting, to increase muscle
- Performing relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation
- Consuming a balanced diet
For males suffering from severe depression or seeing changes in their mental health due to the condition, a doctor may occasionally prescribe antidepressants or suggest treatment.
There is hormone therapy available, including synthetic testosterone. However, it is rarely advised due to its possible negative effects.
