Male Menopause

Is this page really about male menopause? Is such a thing real? Yes! Although not as common as in women, menopause can affect men as they age. In fact, about 50% of all men will experience symptoms of menopause.

Menopause in men can also be called andropause. This is because menopause in men is caused by a drop in testosterone levels. Testosterone is one of the androgen hormones. This drop can be a natural drop due to aging or can be caused by one of these other factors.

• illness
• depression
• obesity

Unlike female menopause, where the estrogen levels plummet drastically, the hormone change in men is much more gradual. Testosterone levels begin to decrease after age 30 usually at a rate of 1% a year. Symptoms may be noticed by the time a man is in his 50's. By the age of 70 a man's testosterone level can be as low as 50% less than when he was younger.

Again, there is a difference in male and female menopause. In women, their child-bearing years are over. Men on the other hand, can still father children even with their decreased hormone level.

It is best to visit your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms like heat flashes,difficulty concentrating or irritability. It may be from normal aging, however, some illnesses can cause a drop in testosterone. Your doctor can help determine that.