Many people think that only women are driven by hormones; however, men have hormonal cycles as well. Just like women, the hormonal levels in men go up and down during the day.
Men also go through a hormonal cycle each month that affects mood. From about age 40 – 55, men can experience male menopause, also known as andropause or Irritable Male Syndrome.
From the age of about 40 onwards, there’s no doubt that there is a small, gradual fall in testosterone as men age, although stress can have a significant effect on the hormonal levels in a man’s body too. Decreased testosterone can be accelerated by the presence of concomitant diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
The drop in hormones is modest in comparison to what occurs in female menopause. However, men experiencing male menopause will have a mix of the following symptoms–
- Loss of sexual interest sometimes accompanied by erectile dysfunction
- Fatigue
- Reduced physical strength
- Diminished bone mineral density
- Increased abdominal fat deposits
- Memory loss
- Less mentally sharp
The drop in testosterone is sufficient enough to question whether hormone replacement is worthwhile.
But as with hormone replacement therapy in women, testosterone replacement therapy does have some potential risks and side effects. For example, there is a risk for increased red blood cells—a condition known as erythrocytosis. Testosterone should not be given if a man has prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate.
Other than testosterone replacement therapy, there are several things you can do. Changes to diet and exercise habits can make a big difference. Depending on the mix of symptoms, your doctor may suggest an antidepressant. Because this condition is often treated by addressing the symptoms, there are many herbal remedies that are beneficial.
- Saw palmetto has been used for centuries to aid prostate health.
- Damiana is a herb that is beneficial to the male hormonal system and considered an aphrodisiac.
- Fo-ti (ho shou wu) is effective as a blood tonic especially if fatigue is a symptom.
References:
The Andropause Mystery: Unraveling Truths About the Male Menopause
Both men and women do suffer with aging and the biological affects that do come along with it as well.
Dealing with the initial symptoms to try and beat it is something that should be adhered to as well, as well as seeking alternatives ways with dealing with impotence and menopause.
Interesting. I had no Idea.
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Thanks for your post on this subject. As the baby boomers age (including myself and my husband) there are so many of us looking at a more proactive approach to health and longevity. Science can extend our lives but quality of life is what I am concerned with. Hormones are so important to so many body functions in both men and women. Several women in my life and a surprising number of men are getting treated by proactive doctors who specialize in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and experiencing a whole new lease on life. For me the key is – get educated on the subject and find a good doctor who specializes in this arena. Life style and nutrition also play a large roll in aging well.
Love your tag line – So true!
Elizabeth
.-= Elizabeth @ Bioidentical Hormone Replacement ´s last blog ..Hormone Replacement Therapy is Controversial: No Doubt About It =-.
Men are affected by a form of menopause, just as women are….
nice post .. thanks.. Health is important, one must be cautious especially when it concern with any disease.
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Narcotic pain killer use for extended periods are also known to lower testosterone. Hormone therapy can be very helpful if these symptoms are an issue for people on pain management program.
Thank you for sharing this, I know of someone that seems to be having some kind of a menopause. I’ll be asking him to read this article.
Great job!
When we think about it. God always makes everything balanced especially when we talk about menopause, lol! Just kidding. Just like women, we are very particular when it comes to health too. Its not always sports tv and beer. Just like me, im always concerned about being stressed in the office with tons of work lining all up. So what i do is i make time for little perks like sprinting, doing a good pose stretching (while on my cubicle) and of course, a healthy sandwich on my lunchbox. This gives us a LONG TERM positive outlook in health which will also avoid risks. Thanks for other testosterone boosters that we can have as options. Thank you for this article. Helps us a lot!