We have all heard of the menopause – it’s a natural part of life for all women. And it is well known that women have a number of different coping tactics and a lot of support for going through this period. But it is also true that middle-aged men go through a similar sort of thing and it is known as the andropause – or in some cases it is referred to cheekily as the man-o-pause. While clearly it is not as well-known and possibly does not cause the same level of hardship as the menopause does to women, it still has the potential to be a real pain to the wellbeing on many men.
The andropause is certainly something that is seen to occur in virtually all men and it is generally characterised as a reduction in two hormones that we strong associate with men, namely: testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). The problem is that the reduction in these hormones causes a number of changes in the male body that can lead to a whole host of annoying and upsetting problems including a lowering of the natural libido, problems with erectile dysfunction, fatigue, sleeping disorders, a loss of mental sharpness and a change in the ratio of lean muscle to fat. The symptoms change from person to person but they can still certainly have the potential to cause problems for almost every man who goes through it.
If you’ve never heard of the andropause before, let us fill you in on a few of the basic details. It is also known medically as partial androgen deficiency in aging males (PADAM). An androgen is defined as any hormone that helps in the development and maintenance of standard male characteristics, also including secondary sex characteristics. These can be defined as the growth of body hair and muscle mass and strength, the growth of the penis and testicles, the production of sperm, broadening of the chest and growth of the voice box. There are many of other aspects too.
It is well known that from the age of 30, the body’s levels of testosterone decline by approximately 1 per cent per year. That means that by the age of 50 or so, a man will probably have lost around 20 per cent of his total testosterone. This can have a huge number of effects on the body and these can be physical, mental and emotional. However, despite the number of issues the reduction in testosterone does not mean that a man’s ability to reproduce declines in the way that women’s ability to reproduce after going through the menopause does. Unlike women, men can generally still have children even as they get much older.
It has also been revealed that men who work in pharmaceutical labs, work with agricultural pesticides or who are in regular contact through their adult lives with industrial chemicals are known have been shown to have a greater decline than men who do not work in these conditions, this means that they experience andropause more than others do.
There are many ways that we can fight against the effect of the andropause, and one of the most popular is taking drugs to boost the levels of testosterone in your body. Unfortunately these drugs have a number of unpleasant side effects so it can be a better idea to use more natural methods such as herbal extracts or getting plenty of exercise in order to keep your testosterone levels high. This can be very good for you but be sure to consult your doctor if you’re worried.