Male Menopause: Is It Real?

aging and men, feature 3, male aging, male menopause, male sexuality, sexuality and men - By Better Sex Network Team on Thursday, May 12, 2011 - 17:53

We've heard all the stereotypes: A guy hits his mid-40's, ditches his wife, buys a sports car, moves into a singles building, and starts hitting on young women in bars. He becomes instantly recognizable as "having a midlife crisis." But these days, he's also described as "going through the male menopause."

While the stereotypical behavior has become a joke, is there any truth to male menopause? Does it exist, and is it at all comparable to women's menopausal hormone loss?

It's not as simplistic as that, but, yes - men go through hormone changes as they age, and the new terms for these changes include "androgen deficiency" and "andropause." When you strip away all the fancy phrases and the medical debate, it all comes down to lower testosterone levels. And while it's normal, it's no joke.

Lower testosterone takes place slowly, unlike women's menopausal changes, which come on more quickly. Testosterone declines over time, about 1% a year after age 30. By age 70 a man may have lost as much as 50%. And unlike women, where hormones stop completely, a man can continue to make sperm into his 80s or longer.

Men going through andropause may notice some significant physical and emotional changes. You might feel a loss of interest in sex, fewer spontaneous erections, and decreased fertility. You may develop insomnia. Your body may change: some men have reported weight gain, a reduction in muscle bulk and strength, hair loss, decreased energy and decreased bone density. Low testosterone can result in depression and decreased concentration

It isn't just nature that decreases testosterone: some medical conditions can contribute, too. So it's important to talk frankly with your doctor and have a hormone-level blood test and some diagnostic tests to rule out other possible physical problems. If you're taking statins to lower your cholesterol, a new study suggests that statins can lower testosterone levels, too.

Changing your lifestyle can help, too. A healthy diet and added regular exercise can help your strength, energy, mood, concentration and help you sleep better.

How about hormone replacement therapy?

For some men, it can work. Dr, Adrian Dobs of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine says that hormone replacement therapy may benefit men with bone density problems, sexual dysfunction when Viagra or precribed medications don't work, and in cases to maintain body composition and muscle, as in patients fighting cancer.

For others, especially older men, there are risks that might outweigh any benefits, like the increased risk of prostate cancer, strokes or liver problems. As always, let your doctor guide you through your choices.

So what else can you do about low testosterone?

Dr. Stephen Sinatra of the New England Heart and Longevity Center in Connecticut, recommends staying away from grapefruit. Grapefruit is a catalyst that turns testosterone into estrogen. So is alcohol interacting with fat in the body.

Dr. Sinatra suggests taking zinc and vitamins C and E, plus herbal supplements like muira puama and L-arginine to increase libido. And you can add exercise to help everything along.

Jed Diamond, author of  Male Menopause, recommends the vasodilator ginkgo biloba for loss of libido. If you're just hitting midlife, try soy products, low fat foods, vegetables and tomato products, plus drinking plenty of water.

Your best move, however, is to see your doctor regularly and get tested, especially of you're over 50.

Photo By: brain_blogger