Male Menopause- More subtle than that of the women
August 24, 2008 Types Of Menopause
It is a very common ocurrance and a proven fact that women will go through menopause. It is also quite common for the male half of our species to also have menopause although, it is to a lesser degree. Men are now being diagnosed with male menopause more frequently than they were in the past.
The Truth about Male Menopause
While menopause for women gets plenty of attention from the medical profession, male menopause is a lesser known but highly common issue as well. Some studies show that up to 40% of men from the ages of 40-60 will experience some symptoms of male menopause. Although men do not suffer from the defined hormonal drop that occurs in women, they do see a decline in the male hormone, testosterone, during the latter half of their lives. This decrease can result in symptoms just like female menopause can, but the symptoms of male menopause can be more subtle in nature. However, some of the symptoms of this type of menopause can occasionally become severe enough to interfere with daily life, which is why some men seek medical help to find relief for their symptoms.
Symptoms of Male Menopause
While there is still some disagreement as to whether the symptoms of male menopause can be attributed directly to the decrease in testosterone, some of the common complaints of men include depression, fatigue, moodiness and sexual problems. For some men, these symptoms of male menopause can be greatly alleviated with the help of testosterone replacement therapy. This type of treatment can be particularly helpful for sexual problems, such as a loss of libido. However, testosterone replacement therapy does come with risks, so you will need to discuss with your doctor whether this is the best treatment for you. There are also lifestyle changes that you can make that can greatly reduce the symptoms of male menopause, such as changing your exercise and diet programs, cutting back on alcohol consumption and quitting smoking. You can also talk to your doctor about other types of treatment, like antidepressants or impotence treatments that will help you to deal with some of your particular symptoms.
Diagnosing Male Menopause
If you are at this stage of life, and you are experiencing some of the symptoms listed above, you can see your doctor to get a definitive diagnosis. Your doctor will base his diagnosis on a physical exam and a list of your symptoms. There are also blood tests that can be done to test for male menopause. These blood tests will check the levels of testosterone in your body, as well as the levels of other hormones. If your hormone levels are indeed low, you and your doctor can decide together about what type of treatment for male menopause will be the best for you. The good news is that there are ways to get a handle on your symptoms and get your life back as well.