1. Not as Defined
Male menopause, unlike female menopause, does not have a physically defined time period or fixed set of symptoms. In fact, there is a debate over whether it even exists. Some physicians refer to male menopause as androgen decline-a decline in testosterone and a change in the functional ability of the testes as men age.
2. Symptoms of Slowdown
The typical symptoms of male menopause are fatigue, sexual problems, depression and weakness. The symptoms can show as early as age forty-five and occurrences increase dramatically in men after the age of seventy. The relation between these symptoms and reduced testosterone is an argued and controversial topic in the medical community. When diagnosed, the physician will order a series of blood tests to determine a man's hormone levels and more specifically his testosterone levels.
3. Testosterone Treatment
If after undergoing hormone level testing a person shows he has low testosterone, the doctor may prescribe testosterone replacement therapy. Understand that there are potential risks and side effects involved with this therapy, as well as alternatives to it. A doctor may recommend lifestyle changes such as more exercise or a change in diet. Medication such as antidepressants may also be a treatment, but like the replacement therapy, there are side effects to these drugs as well.
4. Lifestyles of the Slow and Aging
While testosterone decline is a major cause for male menopause, there are a number of other factors that can lead to this condition. Lifestyle issues such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet and lack of exercise can also contribute. To start improving your diet, choose foods with lower fat and higher fiber content. Besides lifestyle and hormone causes there is also the possibility that over the counter and prescription medication are contributing factors. Talk to your doctor about all these issues.
5. No Midlife Crisis
Don't confuse male menopause with a midlife crisis. These are two very different things. Male menopause has a definitive physical cause, while a midlife crisis is a psycho-social problem that is considered to be mental in origin. Do not dismiss the problem just because your behavior or that of someone you know changes--it may not be a midlife crisis.
