Men and women both experience an ending to their reproductive years. For women this is called menopause, and for men, andropause. Although male menopause, is often thought of as a myth, it is a very real condition, and every man will experience it at some point in his life. Aging naturally contributes to both andropause and menopause, however, other conditions may cause the onset of either.
Hysterectomy
Male Aging
According to Andropause.com, between the ages of 40 and 55 men go through andropause. Andropause occurs when levels of the male hormone testosterone naturally declines. However, men who drink, smoke, use drugs or have had multiple surgeries may enter andropause at a younger age. Andropause.com states that after age 30, men will experience a 10 percent drop in testosterone every decade. This may cause a low sex drive, behavioral changes, decreased muscle mass, loss of muscle strength, increased cardiovascular risk, weak bones and increased upper and central body fat. Men in andropause may be offered testosterone replacement pills to relieve symptoms. However, treatments should discussed with a health professional, as replacement testosterone is not suitable for everyone.
Estrogen Decline
Between the ages of 45 and 55, women naturally go through a phase called menopause. Menopause happens in three stages: perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause. Perimenopause is the transition stage that occurs about two to eight years before menopause begins. During this time a woman will still have a menstrual cycle, although it may be sporadic due to fluctuating levels in the hormone responsible for menstruation, estrogen. The only time this stage will not occur is if a woman has had an operation, such as a hysterectomy, or another condition that causes estrogen levels to drop to menopausal level suddenly. Once a woman has not had a menstrual cycle for 12 months consecutively, she will have entered menopause. During this time a woman may experience heart palpitations, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood swings, forgetfulness, vaginal dryness and forgetfulness. Many women elect to have hormone replacement therapy to lessen the symptoms. Post-menopause begins one year after menopause began.
