It's more commonly known as male menopause and there are studies that show that men are suffering too (more than 13 million cases in the U.S.). The fact that the symptoms are not as drastic as a woman’s has allowed it to be cloaked in denial. But talk show gurus are helping bring it to the forefront.
The Road to Middle Age
On the Dr. Laura Brown show on Oprah Radio, Dr. Brown states that men are affected in their 40s and 50s but there’s a gradual decrease in testosterone which happens over many years, not all of the sudden. It starts around age 25 when the average man reaches his sexual peak.
Popular daytime expert physician, Dr. Oz, calls it “male-o-pause” and suggests that as men enter middle age they should do a regular check of hormone levels. If there’s an imbalance there are simple ways to rectify the situation before it gets serious. However, admitting there’s a problem is the first step.
“There is definitely still a stigma attached to the term male menopause, so the medical community has labeled it androgen disorder, which is still a hormone imbalance,” says Dr. Raymond Hamden, a clinical and forensic psychologist with the Human Relations Institute in Dubai. “Men do have hormone fluctuations in their cycle just the same as women do.” However, men are more hesitant to put a name to it.
Symptoms of "The Change"
The symptoms include low libido, moodiness, irritability, depression, loss of memory and energy. To make matters worse, low levels of testosterone caused by andropause have also been linked to heart disease.
According to Dr. Hamden, men’s symptoms can be very similar to women’s but with men he sees more hostility and aggression but sometimes they don’t even realize it. Some become tearful and depressed and begin having sexual problems as well.
“When we look at androgen levels in male patients suffering from androgen disorder we see low testosterone,” says Dr. Hamden. “This leads to interesting changes in the endocrine system (hormone levels) which can be diagnosed with a simple blood test to make sure there’s nothing else going on, like a medical problem such as diabetes, which can have similar symptoms.”
Dr. Hamden has all his patients, both male and female, do a three month self-observation. During that time the patient gives a daily score to how he or she is feeling socially, physically and emotionally on a scale of one to 10. “Eventually we see a pattern that takes place that will usually relate to the patient’s monthly cycle,” he says.
Menopause and Andropause Treatments
There are many treatments for both men and women, from hormone replacement and bio identical hormone replacement to skin creams, meditation, improved diet and natural herbs, but no one treatment fits all. In many women, hormone replacement therapy has proven successful in warding off symptoms but there are drawbacks too. For men, testosterone therapy is FDA approved and can be an effective treatment for some but not for those with prostate cancer. Making an educated decision based on family history and individual medical background under the guidance of a medical professional is critical.
“The most common treatment for men is testosterone replacement for those without prostate problems, but I also recommend getting a good balance in daily life and getting regular exercise,” says Dr. Hamden. “For men, it has been proven in kinesiology research that exercising the legs can increase testosterone levels. Things like leg presses and squats, for example. There are also herbal treatments available but they should always be taken under the supervision of a doctor who is correctly qualified in herbal medicine."
Anne O'Connell - Anne O’Connell has been a public relations professional since 1990 and has been working as a freelance writer and trainer since ...
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