The myths and realities surrounding male menopause
The male menopause has long been a subject
of scientific debate. But does the condition — which is said to reduce
sexual appetite, self-esteem and physical strength — truly have any
medical grounding or is it merely a symptom of middle-age? This
realbuzz.com guide takes a look at the myths and truths surrounding the
causes of the male menopause.
If you’re feeling tired and
moody, with little sexual appetite for the scores of nubile women
throwing themselves at your feet, you might be wondering if there’s
something inherently wrong with you. Gone are the days when you’d
happily leap into bed with a bronzed beauty (if only!), or stay up late,
playing obscure records until the early hours of the morning. Nowadays,
you’re more likely to be tucked beneath your quilt by 9pm, willing the
neighbours’ kids to lower their voices. So what’s going on? It could be
that you’re going through the male menopause ...
Falling testosterone in middle-age
The question of whether a male menopause actually exists has long been a source of scientific discussion. Technically, men can’t experience the menopause per se,
as this condition specifically relates to the moment when women of a
certain age stop having their periods. Nevertheless, many of the
side-effects associated with the female menopause are equally apparent
amongst aging men. Depression, achy muscles and even increased body
weight can prove highly troubling to males in their mid-40s onwards.Scientists
have dubbed male menopause the ‘andropause’. The feelings of malaise,
physical weakness and low self-esteem stemming from this condition are
caused by a gradual drop in testosterone levels, similar to the fall in
hormones experienced by menopausal women. Though the majority of
middle-aged men remain unaffected, the andropause can exacerbate a
mid-life crisis in a variety of troubling ways.
Symptoms of the andropause
As men grow older, their testosterone levels gradually fall,
potentially causing symptoms of the andropause. These problems can
include everything from a weakened sex drive through to full-blown
periods of depression ...
- Lack of sexual appetite and infertility — It won’t be the news that your partner wants to hear, but a fall in testosterone can really dampen your sexual appetite. If you’ve been struggling to raise your enthusiasm in the bedroom (so to speak), or are unable to conceive, it might be time to see your doctor and assess whether the andropause is to blame. Sadly, the damage to your sex drive doesn’t stop there; the male menopause has also been blamed for shrinking testes and loss of pubic hair amongst aging men who are low in testosterone.
- Depleted energy and low motivation — Back in the day, you might have leaped out of bed in the morning, throwing open the curtains before greeting the world with a cocky spring in your step. Nowadays things have changed ... you sleep through your alarm clock, lethargically crawl out from under the sheets and then lope into the kitchen to eat another bowl of soggy muesli. Sound familiar? Sadly, your reduced energy and crumbling joie de vivre could be down to the andropause.
