Male Menopause
Women
may not be the only ones who suffer the effects of changing hormones.
Some doctors are noticing that men are reporting some of the same
symptoms that women experience in perimenopause and menopause.
The
medical community is debating whether or not men really do go through a
well-defined menopause. Doctors say that men receiving hormone therapy
with testosterone have reported relief of some of the symptoms
associated with so-called male menopause.
Ask
any woman about her least favorite body part, and most of us will point
to our middles. And in my experience, bellies can become especially
anxiety-provoking when excess fat spills over the top of our jeans. Yes,
the dreaded "muffin top."
Any woman can get a muffin top. But women are more likely to gain excess
belly weight -- especially deep inside the belly -- as they go through
perimenopause and into menopause, when their menstrual cycle ends.
That's because as estrogen levels drop, body fat...
What Is Male Menopause?
Because
men do not go through a well-defined period referred to as menopause,
some doctors refer to this problem as androgen (testosterone) decline in
the aging male -- or what some people call low testosterone. Men do
experience a decline in the production of the male hormone testosterone
with aging, but this also occurs with conditions such as diabetes.
Along with the decline in testosterone, some men experience symptoms that include:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Depression
- Sexual problems
The relationship of these symptoms to decreased testosterone levels is still controversial.
Unlike
menopause in women, when hormone production stops completely,
testosterone decline in men is a slower process. The testes, unlike the
ovaries, do not run out of the substance it needs to make testosterone. A
healthy man may be able to make sperm well into his 80s or later.
However,
as a result of disease, subtle changes in the function of the testes
may occur as early as age 45 to 50 and more dramatically after the age
of 70 in some men.
How Is Male Menopause Diagnosed?
To make the diagnosis of male menopause, the doctor will:
- Perform a physical exam
- Ask about symptoms
- Order tests to rule out medical problems that may be contributing to the condition
- Order blood tests, which may include measuring testosterone level
Can Male Menopause Be Treated?
If testosterone levels are low, testosterone replacement therapy may help relieve symptoms such as:
- Loss of interest in sex (decreased libido)
- Depression
- Fatigue
Just
as with hormone replacement therapy in women, testosterone replacement
therapy has potential risks and side effects. Replacing testosterone may
worsen prostate cancer, for example.
If
you are considering androgen replacement therapy, talk to a doctor to
learn more. Your doctor may also recommend certain lifestyle or other
changes to help with some symptoms of male menopause. These include:
- Diet
- Exercise program
- Medications, such as an antidepressant
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by
Melinda Ratini, DO, MS on June 29, 2012
end quote from:
http://men.webmd.com/guide/male-menopause?ecd=wgt_outbrain_nosp_lowteditorial_ad34
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