You might have read too much about menopause – but too little about andropause. The so-called ‘male menopause’ is not as talked-about as its female version, and yet it is just as real. Aging men deserve as much attention as that which is given to aging women.
Menopause-Like Condition in Men
Andropause is the stage when men, usually in middle age, experience a reduction in their production of the hormones dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone. The slow but steady decrease in the hormones causes a slow but steady decrease in Leydig cells. This is where the symptoms of andropause come from.
The word andropause was coined by combining the Greek word ‘andro’, which means ‘male’, and the English word ‘pause’, which means ‘stop’. Ever since it was discovered during the 1940s, it has stirred a lot of controversies. At first, it was called the male menopause. Over time, the name became so misleading that many medical experts thought that it was no different from the typical aging process that men experience around the age of 45 and beyond.
Not Much Like Menopause in Women
Although andropause is considered the male counterpart of menopause, it is still not much like the condition that women experience. Menopause in women comes with a complete termination in their reproductive capacity. It comes abruptly along with symptoms that harshly affect women’s quality of life.
In the case of andropause, men seem to be luckier. It des not have any effect on their ability to become a father. In fact, men who are in their 90s can still produce children. This simply shows that andropause does not necessarily involve the end of the male reproductive capability. This is the huge difference between andropause and menopause.
Nevertheless, both come with a similar set of symptoms. Andropause usually occurs gradually and is usually asymptomatic in its onset.
Another major difference between the two is this: Unlike menopause, andropause is not recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is merely a convenient term used to describe the stage in which older men start to experience the symptoms of aging.
The Impact of Andropause
A lot of studies about andropause have already been conducted. Many of these present the most common symptoms brought about by the plummeting level of testosterone in males. Usually, the condition is associated with depression, mood swings, nervousness, inability to concentrate, impaired memory, loss of energy, obesity, potency and libido issues, insomnia, sweating, and hot flushes.
But such symptoms often do not manifest unless there is a huge drop in testosterone level. That’s why medical experts prefer to call this stage as Androgen Deficiency in Aging Male (ADAM) instead of andropause.
There are others who believe that andropause is the male counterpart of menopause. Numerous groups and individuals have argued about whether or not andropause needs to be diagnosed and treated. The question of its existence and whether or not males should seek treatment for it haunts the medical world up to this day.
All About Testosterone Replacement
Whether or not andropause is the equivalent of menopause in men, it has been quite clear that aging men could not avoid it. Testosterone replacement therapy is the treatment of choice for those who suffer from excessively low levels of the hormone.
But be warned: Testosterone Replacement Therapy is not commonly suggested because it can cause severe unwanted effects. Nonetheless, some instances require or advise therapy. First, if a man’s bone density starts to decline (which may eventually lead to osteoporosis associated with andropause), therapy may be advised. It may also be suggested for those whose sexual dysfunction is not alleviated by medicines like Viagra. Those who need to maintain a specific body composition and muscle mass/strength because of cancer or some other condition are also considered as candidates for therapy.
Experts say that males should think very carefully before they plunge into the testosterone replacement therapy hoopla – whether it is in the form of injection, gel, cream, patch, or capsule. This is because it was discovered that the therapy can increase a man’s chances in having prostate cancer. That’s why it is important for anyone contemplating about getting such a treatment to have their PSA levels checked. A PSA blood test is a laboratory procedure that will check one’s risk for having prostate cancer.
Aside from an increased risk for contracting prostate cancer, testosterone replacement therapy, especially in injection form, has been associated with incidents of stroke, breast development, and liver toxicity. Ironically, it can also block the production of sperm.
Natural Treatments for Andropause
The common and safest andropause treatment is a significant change in lifestyle. Changing patterns in the way you eat and work can seriously impact both your andropause and aging experience.
Watch your diet. The food you eat can make a big difference on how you look and feel. Men hitting midlife should load up on tomato products, soy products, and fruits and vegetables. (Young people are advised to do these things as well!) They should cut down especially their intake of fatty foods. Drinking lots of fluid is also advised. Aside from eating well, aging men must also come up with an exercise routine that they can commit to regularly.
Men can also reap significant benefits from supplementing with specific vitamins that will help aid their fight against andropause. Zinc as well as vitamins C and E are especially useful at this stage. Herbal products like Gingko Biloba can help improve libido.
Provacyl A Supplement For Andropause!
This article is amazing! Its really well written and has a lot of good information for me. I’ll be asking my doctor about this!
hey great article. one thing though–getting older does affect a man’s ability to produce a child. although men can still father children naturally, it tends to get more difficult as the number and quality of sperm decline. also, prostate issues may interfere with sperm delivery. but its true its different from women who can’t have children at all from a much younger age.
not like anyone should be having kids after 40 anyway. you need youthful energy to deal with kids. it’s also bad when you have a teenager in the house when mom is going through menopause and dad is going through andropause. then everyone is on a crazy hormonal rollercoaster and it makes the fighting of the teenage years way worse.
if you want treatment to stay good looking and strong, so be it, but stop having kids when you’re old!
Just like menopause, andropause must be welcomed with an open mind. Only an open mind can make you see clearly what you can do to help decrease the bad effects of this hormonal milestone and just focus on the good things. Remember that you have come this far, you shouldn’t be shaken by the challenges that a new phase in life brings. And yes, I agree with those previous responses, being able to father a child at an old age is not as if it’s a big thing, except for those who found love in later years. What’s more important is for us to focus on ways to decrease the discomfort of this stage.
This article is correct in pointing out that aging beautifully – whether you are a man or a woman – depends on your disposition. How you take things will help you determine how you will deal with them.
aging should never be given a negative connotation. you can age beautifully given a positive outlook in life and a sense of embracing a healthy lifestyle. i agree with this article’s writer. natural treatments are far more effective and safe in coping with andropause
not everyone knows that andropause actually exist. count me in. i was surpised to find about this articl;e talking about menopause in men. men and women, no matter how different they may be, are both subjected to the undeniable fact of aging. it may bring a good bunch of discomforts and some ugly issues along the way. what’s important is that you are up ahead to tackle all those changes and embrace them with open arms. this article is a well-written piece that opens up our eyes onto something that is not much talked about or explored. through this, men will become more aware that they are not simply aging but suffering from a condition called andropause, which can be treated accordingly.
excellent post. I can definitely relate to your article. Andropause, as much as getting old, is inevitable. Not everyone are ready to accept its occurrence but it happens alright. I have found some useful remarks on your article on how I can actually cope with the condition without putting the quality of my life at risk.
I appreciate with the above information. It’s a really valuable and useful for me about Andropause, Andropause nothing but Male Menopause. Thanks for this great article.