Andropause - the Male Menopause

As Baby Boomers come of age, we hear more and more about one of the many subjects our parents often avoided talking about: female "change of life", or Menopause.  Nowadays, the symptoms women experience during this natural adjustment in hormonal balance are well documented and treatment is widely available.

Male Menopause -- or Andropause -- however, is just as common an experience for men as its counterpart is for women. Just as women deals with a shift in their hormones, men as they grow older,  inevitably experience a gradual shift in their hormonal balance.

Usually, men do not like to talk about this fact. A man's masculine identity is often linked to an awareness of the necessity of male hormones. Any suggestion that hormonal levels are imbalanced, or are low, can be a threat to his sense of self worth.

Denial can run deep. And while symptoms of Male menopause mount--including depression, fatigue, loss of libido, increasing irritability and more--a basic medical condition goes untreated.

However, by properly treating the underlying causes and not just the symptoms; You can feel like a 30 year old again!

EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF ANDROPAUSE:

MALE HORMONAL IMBALANCE

The symptoms of Andropause are varied. Some symptoms occur very gradually. Others seem to just hit one day, like a ton of bricks. There are infinite combinations of symptoms and severity. Every Man is different and his particular symptoms and severity is unique.

It is perhaps a good idea to talk with your partner about these warning signs.

1. Depression, low or negative mood
2. Decreased stamina
3. Irritability
4. Fatigue
5. Decrease or loss of sexual enjoyment
6. Erectile dysfunction
7. Anxiety and nervousness
8. Inability to concentrate/memory loss
9. Stiffness in muscles and joints
10. Feeling fat, gaining weight
11. Decreased effectiveness of exercise
12. Decreased urine flow
13. Increased abdominal fat
14. Sleep disturbances
15. Increased amount of time to recover from injuries or illness
16. Loss of interest and self-confidence
17. Feeling time is running out

In aggregate, these symptoms can be and often are diagnosed as indications of other medical problems.

Depression, for instance, may be the result of an imbalance in chemical receptors in the brain. Doctors often treat the symptoms for depression and prescribe an antidepressant.   Often, the underlying cause, an hormonal imbalance is often overlooked.

Similarly the symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction. A tablet of Viagra can used for the physical symptom but does not treat the underlying cause; Andropause.

Testing is the Key

Back