Male menopause, sometimes called “andropause,” produces a variety of effects on men’s bodies, including declining testosterone. But it only affects about 2.1% of men and is usually more common as men get older. Here’s what you need to know about male menopause.
Symptoms of male menopause
Unlike female menopause, decreases in hormones aren’t typically severe. Men may also experience hot flashes, moodiness, loss of muscle mass, irritability, dry skin, fatigue, depression, sweating and the build-up of fat around the chest and abdomen.
The most common symptoms of male menopause are:
- decline in libido
- erectile dysfunction
- fewer morning erections
You may also find that you have trouble bending, kneeling, stooping, lifting heavy objects, running and even walking more than half a mile or so.
Causes of male menopause
Because not all men experience andropause with aging, experts don’t believe that it’s a standard part of aging.
It’s important to note that after age 30, testosterone tends to decline at a rate of about 1% per year. So, while male menopause does appear to occur in older men with decreased testosterone, they are more prevalent in older men with:
- type 2 diabetes
- obesity
- heart disease
- high blood pressure
Other risk factors
Some men are more likely to experience male menopause. These include men who:
- don’t exercise
- smoke
- consume alcohol
- having excessive stress and anxiety
- are sleep deprived
Treatment
There is no single treatment for men who experience male menopause. Doctors will do a thorough exam, blood tests and possibly, scans. When it comes to treating symptoms, this could range from weight management and creating an exercise routine to controlling blood glucose levels, treating depression and/or anxiety, assisting with sleep apnea issues and implementing dietary changes.
Although some cases may include testosterone therapy, it may come with risks, including prostate cancer, blockage of the urinary tract, epilepsy, sleep apnea and ischemic heart disease.
