What Are the Signs of Male Menopause?

More middle aged men are now reporting to have the same symptoms that women have when they are experiencing menopause. This is known as "male menopause." There can be various causes of male menopause. Certain steps are taken to determine if this is the case or if it is a sign of another medical condition. Male menopause can be treated with hormone therapy or naturally.

Definition

Male menopause is also identified as andropause. This is when a male suffers from testosterone declination. It normally occurs in men who are between the ages of 45 and 60. Not all men will go through this.

With male menopause, the declination of the testosterone hormone is a slower process than a woman's declination of the estrogen hormone. They do, however, experience some of the same symptoms that a woman has when she is going through menopause.

Causes

There are several factors that can cause a man to experience male menopause. For a majority of men, it will just occur naturally. Male menopause can also be caused by an individual being depressed, ill or obese, or if he suffers from dementia. Certain medical conditions can cause a man's testosterone levels to decrease; These conditions can be associated with the hypothalamus or the pituitary glands or the testicles themselves. Also, some men who are diagnosed with cancer or any other types of autoimmune diseases may have low testosterone levels.

Symptoms

The signs of male menopause are somewhat similar to what a woman experiences during menopause. The only difference is that it may seem less extreme for men. Men experiencing male menopause may suffer from night sweats, hot flashes, muscle and joint aches, and fatigue. They may also suffer from depression and mood swings and become irritable. Men will possibly notice a decrease in libido or sex drive. This is caused by the male's decreasing levels of testosterone.

Diagnosis

To properly diagnose a man as having male menopause, his physician will inquire about his symptoms and his complete medical history. The patient will then have a complete physical exam. If it seems as if the symptoms may be a sign of any other medical problems, the physician may run other diagnostic tests. To check the male's testosterone levels, he will also undergo various blood hormone tests. These blood tests will be repeated at different intervals.

Treatment

Male menopause can be treated through testosterone replacement therapy. This can help relieve some symptoms, such as fatigue and depression. It can also help to increase the male's libido. Male menopause can also be treated by making some lifestyle changes. By eating a healthier diet and exercising regularly, some of the symptoms can be controlled. There are also some herbal treatments that can be taken, such as avena sativa, saw palmetto, tribulus terrestris and eurycoma longifolia.