I wrote a post on female menopause a year ago. Since then I have had requests to address the so-called male menopause. Sure, out at the pub men may lightly joke about it with their buddies and everyone nervously laughs. Yet, not surprising is the fact that men don’t want to discuss this issue seriously with the same sons they had the birds and bees talk with. It is also not surprising that we women are just as reluctant to discuss menopause with our daughters.
Women don’t have a lock on hormonal effects within their body. Males also have hormones and can develop issues related to their hormones similar to those of women. One of these conditions is male menopause, also called andropause or androgen decline or simply low testosterone. The term male menopause is not accurate for the condition since nothing really pauses, it only slows down.
Men experience a variety of symptoms during male menopause including fatigue, weakness, depression, poor sleep, and sexual dysfunction. Menopause is very different in men and women because men never stop producing sperm and testosterone even if the counts are low. While women stop their hormone and egg production entirely, a healthy man can produce sperm usually his entire life.
Diagnosis
To diagnose this condition the doctor will perform a physical, ask about symptoms, and conduct tests to rule out other contributing conditions. Most likely, the doctor will test for testosterone levels to find out if the man is suffering from low testosterone, which can be treated as long as there aren’t any underlying conditions causing it like diabetes.
Treatment
If tests come back indicating a hormonal issue that isn’t happening alongside other conditions that can cause these symptoms the doctor may offer solutions such as diet and exercise, medications, or hormone replacement therapy.
Beginning
For most men, male menopause may start as early as 45 but it can happen at any age. Any male who feels uninterested in sex, tired, moody, and even depressed should first visit their doctor to rule out hormonal issues. Once that is ruled out then other treatments can be given.
What to do
First, it’s important to pay attention to your health always. If you notice changes you can’t easily explain away, it’s important to ask your primary care physician about them at your next yearly physical. Anything you notice regardless if it seems unimportant should be brought up with your doctor. Don’t allow your doctor to ignore the symptoms either.
Male menopause physical symptoms
The hormone testosterone helps the male body build muscles, have strong bones, healthy bone marrow and red blood cells. For this reason, dropping testosterone levels, which are part of male menopause, can cause havoc with those systems.
After a man reaches the age of 30 years, testosterone levels gradually decrease, falling an average of one percent each year.
· Low Sex Drive – Are you, or your loved one, suffering from a low sex drive? Do you feel like it’s more trouble than it’s worth to initiate sex? Do you find yourself making excuses when it gets near bedtime to stay up so that your spouse doesn’t try? If you’re experiencing that, your doctor may have the answer via hormone treatments.
· Erectile Dysfunction – There are ranges of dysfunction when it comes to getting and keeping an erection. Some men with hormone imbalances can’t get an erection at all, but others can early in the morning, and yet others simply cannot maintain their erection to complete the sex act.
· Low Energy – Having trouble keeping your eyes open when you need them to be open? Don’t want to do the things you need to take care of yourself and others? Can’t get through a meeting without wanting to fall asleep? You may have a hormone or vitamin deficiency.
· Low Muscle Mass – Testosterone builds muscle easier. A man with low testosterone will have low muscle mass and be weaker than normal. If you’re trying to exercise and nothing is happening, get a blood test to find out where you stand.
· Increased Body Fat – Low muscle mass and other characteristics of the physical symptoms of male menopause can manifest as increased body fat too. Especially fat that gathers around the belly and breasts in men.
· Hot Flashes – Yes, even men will get hot flashes when they’re hormones are not balanced properly. If you do get hot flashes that’s a great sign to get to the doctor to get a test and find out what can be done.
If you exhibit any of these physical symptoms, get help. Don’t hesitate to see your doctor, there are many treatment options available.
Male menopause mental symptoms
Dropping testosterone levels, which are part of male menopause, can cause mental symptoms too.
· Depression and Sadness – A vitamin D and/or a B12 shortage can cause depression and sadness if you don’t get it treated and often comes together with low testosterone. Your doctor may want to do some blood tests to find out how to treat your depression and sadness.
· Mood Disorders – A hormone imbalance may lead to mood disorders too. A mood disorder can be characterized as having up and down moods. Sometimes he may be happy and the next he’s exploding with anger.
· Decreased Motivation – It’s hard to be motivated if you don’t feel well. If your energy is low, and your depression is high, you may experience low motivation to get things done. You may not be able to muster the strength to get motivated to do what you need to do.
· Lowered Self- Confidence – Suffering from a lack of self-confidence can also be a symptom of male menopause. The main reason is the low testosterone, which seems to sap the confidence out of a man.
· Difficulty Concentrating – Feeling foggy and an inability to focus and concentrate is another symptom of male menopause. Many things can cause or factor into having problems focusing and concentrating. Talk with your doctor to rule out specific issues and find the actual cause, as well as helpful treatments.
· Difficulty Sleeping – If you have low energy, and are tired a lot, which may cause you to nap during the day, which then creates a circular situation where you can’t sleep at night. Hormone changes can affect sleep a lot.
Most of these mental symptoms can be controlled with diet, vitamins, exercise, and possibly hormone therapy. If it turns out to be another cause, it’s worth it to be examined by your doctor who will conduct tests to find out for sure what the problem is.
“Other people get moody in their forties and fifties - men get the male menopause. I missed the whole thing. I was just really happy.”
What you can do about sexual issues
Many men experiencing male menopause end up having a very low sex drive, but even when they want to have sex, they have issues with completing the act due to the low quality of their erections. While these things are difficult to talk about there are several things that can be done to better the situation.
See your Doctor
The first place you should go if you have any type of sexual dysfunction is to your doctor. You may have a hormonal imbalance, but you may also have a problem that is more serious such as a heart condition. ED is the first sign for heart problems or other blood flow issues that may lead to heart attack or stroke.
Exercise more
After you get a clean bill of health from your doctor, start moving more. Try to exercise at least 20 to 30 minutes every day at a moderate to vigorous rate in a cardiovascular manner. Jogging, walking fast, jump rope, and rebounding are all great choices. If you’re out of shape, try water exercises.
Change your diet
If you’re overweight, it’s important to deal with that. Try to cut your calories so that you can lose weight. Many overweight men have low testosterone and have issues with sexual function. Try a low-fat, low-calorie diet. Keep your weight at a healthy range to maximize proper hormone production in your body.
Meditation
Some men have sexual issues due to stress and anxiety. Being stressed increases the level of cortisol in your blood, which increases belly fat, which increases your chances of cardiovascular issues. This often shows up first as erectile dysfunction. Meditating daily can help you calm yourself and focus on something else other than the circular thoughts that accompany stress and anxiety. You can find guided meditations on YouTube and even some podcasts to help you succeed.
Medication
There are medications that can help you get an erection such as Viagra. These are only available by prescription and are not usually covered by health insurance. They are very expensive and may not be safe for everyone.
7 Male menopause natural remedies
Men often experience testosterone levels dropping starting in their 40’s or 50’s. If it’s this natural progression, there are natural treatments that you can pursue to treat yourself. Be sure to check with your doctor first.
· Eat fruit and veggies – Fruit and vegetables are the best things you can eat if you’re experiencing any menopause symptoms. Produce is full of antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals. They are also full of fiber, which is an important part of a healthy diet.
· Replace fat with healthy fats – Try to keep your fat intake less than 30 percent and ensure that it’s all healthy fats. Fats that occur naturally in your food, such as those found in bananas and nuts, or from fruit like olives and coconuts are best. You can use nut oils if you’re not allergic but try to stick to fruit oils.
· Add daily green tea – The Chinese swear by green tea so you should try it. It can’t harm you unless you find that caffeine affects you negatively. Buy a high-quality green tea and prepare it according to directions. Try to avoid using sugar for sweetening.
· Don’t forget your Omega 3’s – Omega 3 fatty acids is a type of fat that is essential to the body. Your body cannot make them, so you must ingest them. You can get this fat from fish, vegetable oils, fruit oils, nuts, flax, and more.
· Avoid Additives – It’s best to avoid packaged food if you can because it has so many dangerous additives. Some of those additives are sweeteners, unhealthy fats, and preservatives. For some people, this can affect them a lot.
· Take Specific Supplements – If you’re experiencing male menopause look into supplementing with zinc, vitamin D3, vitamin B12, vitamin B3, magnesium, Boron, and you can try Saw Palmetto Extract if you have erectile dysfunction (ED). Give it a a good six months before you give up. The effects of vitamins and minerals can be cumulative so it may take some time when you go this route. Check with your Doctor about taking more than the recommended doses.
· Stay Hydrated – Drinking plenty of water helps your body process the vitamins and minerals that you need to be healthy. You need a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day and in some cases more if you’re exercising or live in a dry climate.
Medical treatment options
If you’re looking for treatment options for male menopause, there are a few things that can be done. In most cases, you’re the one in complete charge of getting better. While there are some medical interventions, in most cases, lifestyle changes will produce additional results that make a significant difference.
Your doctor is your first line of information and treatment. Also, keep in mind that there is no cure for male menopause that is going to work overnight. It may take months to feel better so stick with it.
Medication therapy
There are medications that men can take that will help them overcome their issues. If they have erectile dysfunction medicines like Viagra can help. If you have other issues, the doctor may prescribe more medications to treat other conditions. Research every medication prescribed to ensure that you’re willing to live with the potential side effects first.
Testosterone replacement therapy
If you have low-T and you’ve tried other methods such as taking vitamins and minerals without success hormone replacement may be for you. However, if you have a family history of prostate cancer it may not be a good option for you. For men for whom hormone replacement therapy works they should see improvements relatively quickly compared to the other methods.
Thankfully, male menopause is treatable. It’s not something a man has to live with for a lifetime like with female menopause, which is the end of the egg and hormone production time for her. A healthy man can be treated with exercise, diet, and hormones and get back much of his vibrancy including sexual function.
If you are interested in knowing something of Female Menopause take a look at
https://www.joycearussell.com/blog/managing-your-life-and-symptoms-during-menopause
I know this is one of those topics many are squeamish about. But being too embarrassed to acknowledge and discuss a condition most of us, both men and women face in our middle years does us and our children a disservice.
I hope you found this post enlightening and valuable. Please share it with your family and friends.