What Happens When Males Go Through Menopause (Andropause)?

It’s a topic which generates a lot of debate. There are some who question the very existence of the male menopause. But it is true that nearly 40% men in the age group of 40 to 50 years go through a phase when they get depressed, irritable, have mood swings, feel weak and lethargic and encounter sexual problems. And it’s this phase that most researchers are now categorizing as andropause or male menopause.

Very often, when men experience such mood swings and exhibit erratic behavior, they are dismissed as having a mid-life crisis. However, now it emerges that what was till now thought of as a psychological down swing, may have its origins in physiological and physical changes that men go through at this point of life. The mid-life crisis could actually be the male menopause.

So what happens to men when they go through andropause?

1. Male menopause is linked to decreasing levels of testosterone. This decrease in the production of testosterone creates a series of symptoms. However, critics of the male menopause theory say that the decline in the levels of testosterone in males cannot be compared with the decline in estrogen production in females going through menopause. The hormone production in females comes to a complete halt and therefore it’s not really right to compare male menopause to female menopause. In addition, the symptoms of the so-called male menopause are rather vague. The symptoms of female menopause and much more clearly defined and well documented clinically too.
2. Since the symptoms are less clearly defined and vary widely between men (in fact some men may not go through menopause at all), it is not very easy to diagnose male menopause. But the diagnosis is often done through blood tests to check out hormone levels, especially that of testosterone.
3. Males who undergo menopause still remain fertile. This is in contrast to women who become infertile once the menopause phase is completed. Men, on the other hand, continue to produce testosterone and sperms well into their 80s.
4. But though testosterone and sperm production may still continue, the fact is that men who undergo menopause seem to lose interest in sex. Almost 80 per cent of men who undergo menopause agree that there is a decline in their sex drive. Menopausal men may also suffer from erectile dysfunction along with their inability to enjoy sex.
5. Other menopausal symptoms that men suffer include hot flushes, night sweats, tiredness and lack of energy, and decrease in strength. Men may also suffer from emotional and behavioral problems like temper tantrums, depression, violent changes in mood, inability to work properly, and a general inability to enjoy life. However, not all these symptoms will be present.  Since it’s a phenomenon that is not very well documented, these symptoms are also not absolute.
6. Male menopause is generally treated at a psychological level. Even if you go to a doctor, he will probably advise you on life style changes. These include developing new interests or hobbies, changing eating habits to a healthier low-fat, high -fiber diet, and cutting down on alcohol. Exercise will be recommended as it increases physical stamina as well as reduces depression.  If the doctor feels that the symptoms of depression could be dangerous to over-all well-being, he might prescribe anti-depressants.
7. If the male menopause symptoms seem to be acute in their severity, there is the option of testosterone replacement therapy. However, the decision to go in for testosterone replacement therapy should be taken very carefully and cautiously by both the affected male and the doctor. It should be done only under strict supervision.  Such precautions are absolutely necessary as testosterone replacement therapy has serious side effects which include prostate cancer and liver damage. Therefore, it should not be prescribed as a blanket treatment for all males suffering from severe male menopause symptoms. Instead it should be taken up on a case-by-case basis.
8. Testosterone Replacement Therapy may help some of the symptoms of male menopause to disappear but it is unlikely to have much impact on sexual problems including erectile dysfunction. Testosterone Replacement Therapy helps in problems relating to impotence only in men with severe hormone deficiencies. Most men who are undergoing male menopause experience only a slight decline in their testosterone levels.
9. It is important for men who undergo male menopause to accept what is happening to them and to learn to live with it. Families also need to be more understanding and learn more about this condition. Menopausal males need support from their loved ones and this can happen only if partners are more aware of the phenomenon of male menopause.

Men who over the age of 40, need to watch out for male menopause. There may not be a well-defined treatment plan for it, but you can certainly get some help to cope with the situation.