Male menopause is often overlooked. You can find a lot of hype and information in the media regarding women going through menopause, but men are often left forgotten. Male menopause is also referred to as "andropause." Andropause refers to the natural decline of a man's testosterone levels. Like with women and menopause, not all men go through andropause.
Information About What's Occurring in Men
For males, hormone levels tend to peak around the age of 15 to 18. Sometime during their mid-20s, the hormone levels will begin to slowly drop. Normally, these levels will remain at a healthy level. Some men will see testosterone levels significantly drop by the time they reach the age of 40. By they reach the age of 50, approximately half of the men will experience a significant reduction in testosterone levels. This can result in some uncomfortable ailments for many men.
Understanding Andropause
The first step in treatment of andropause is to understand that it is not necessarily the same as menopause. Some symptoms can be similar to women experiencing menopause, but the symptoms may be less intense. Common menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, muscle and joint pain and joint aches. Men will also suffer from emotional symptoms, such as mood swings, irritability, depression and listlessness. Many men will also have issues with sex, the most common being a diminished sex drive. Approximately 80 percent of men will experience this.
Treatment Options
Unfortunately, many men do not seek help for andropause. Many of them feel uncomfortable discussing such issues. Many doctors (and men) have not taken andropause seriously in the past. Signs of andropause can be difficult to diagnose. The main treatment for andropause is testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT. TRT does not always work effectively to combat a decreased sex drive. It's important if you're a man going through andropause to understand what is happening with your body and to seek treatment. Symptoms should be discussed with your doctor and a sensible treatment plan should be put into place.
The main key to male menopause treatment is to remember that what you're is normal. It's nothing to be embarrassed about and should be addressed immediately. Many of the symptoms associated with male menopause can be treated with TRT and other therapies.
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