Understanding Male Menopause Symptoms

It is not a myth. You know that joke about how "men"-opause exists for men, too? It is absolutely true. They do go through a menopausal period of their own, even though not many of them will ever want to admit it. In truth, many men probably do not even realize it. However, mothers, wives, sisters, aunts, et cetera, can spy male menopause symptoms from a mile away. Listen to them, they will be happy to share the signs with you. If you are a man, however, then admitting you are going through your gender's version of menopause can be difficult. Therefore, it is first important to understand exactly what this "condition" is.

Male menopause is often referred to as andropause. Basically, it is the term used to describe the natural declination of the levels of testosterone in an aging man's body. However, it does not happen to every man. For that matter, no one really knows why some men go through it and some do not. For those who do, you can just imagine the effects. Testosterone is really a man's main hormone. It produces sperm, it is the driving force behind his sex drive, and it can even make him stronger, as it affects musculature and strength. Clearly, declining testosterone levels are to men what declining estrogen levels are to women. Men can start experiencing the reduction of testosterone as early as their twenties. By the time they reach their fifties, it is likely that their testosterone levels are quite low.

As mentioned, no one really knows the physiological technicalities behind male menopause. There are events which can trigger it though. For example, illnesses and depression are common catalysts. Men who suffer from dementia may also experience it. Certain diseases have an independent effect on testosterone, so they are more likely to cause andropause. Cardiovascular diseases, heart disease, and diseases affecting the immune system are just a few examples.

All the same, there are significant differences between female and male menopause. There are a lot of similarities but, naturally, because men and women are so fundamentally different, so too are the types of menopause they experience. For example, women who have gone through menopause will no longer be fertile, period. In contrast, even a man who has gone through andropause will never be totally infertile.

It must be said that a lot of the symptoms are the same in both cases. It must also be said that women do experience them on a more intense level. Still, men who are going through male menopause can also suffer through hot flashes and the dreaded night sweats. They are prone to insomnia alongside frequent feelings of fatigue and exhaustion. Their muscles and joints ache, and they may be lackluster. Emotionally, they experience mood swings, they are more irritable, they frequently fill depressed, and they can be extremely listless.

Testosterone is, of course, linked to man's sex drive. Because of the decreasing levels, men also experience sexual problems during menopause, although they are not the same as those felt by women. Women generally just lack all interest in sex. Men can as well, but this may be because the lack of testosterone can make it difficult to achieve and maintain an erection.