Menopause: It Isn’t Just a Problem for Women
There is a new medical issue that more and more older men are facing these days; it is called male menopause. That term is likely to be confusing for many seeing it for the first time. Most people think of menopause as an issue only women deal with. However, that is simply not the case. Though female menopause may be a bigger problem and is certainly much more widely discussed, every year more men are coming forward with the symptoms of male menopause.
Causes of Male Menopause
In women, menopause is caused by the reduction of estrogen production that accompanies the loss of the monthly menstrual cycle. Obviously, men do not have a menstrual cycle to lose, but they are subject to drops in the production of testosterone. This faltering testosterone production is known as hypogonadism, and this is the condition which cause male menopause.
Symptoms of Male Menopause
There are many warning signs older men can be on the lookout for when it comes to male menopause. Many men become aware of male menopause when they notice that they have a lowered sex drive. They may also have bouts of erectile dysfunction, which includes problems achieving or maintaining an erection.
As well as sexual difficulties, male menopause causes many ill effects on a man’s zest for living. Many men suffering from male menopause report feelings of depression, apathy and an overall loss of interest in activities that were once pleasurable. They also often report getting tired more easily as well as a general sense of fatigue. Any man who is over the age of 40 and experiencing these types of symptoms needs to report them to his doctor. The doctor can run some quick tests to see if male menopause is the culprit.
Tests and Treatment for Male Menopause
It doesn’t take much work for a doctor to determine if a patient is suffering from male menopause. Blood will be drawn and the testosterone level will be checked. If a man is found to be suffering from very low testosterone levels, then the doctor will prescribe treatment to try and raise the levels of testosterone.
The treatment is usually given in the form of a gel that men rub onto their skin. This is the same type of gel that many athletes such as Barry Bonds used to cheat at sports. Other methods of delivering testosterone for male menopause include shots and patches.
Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Once a man starts taking the testosterone replacement therapy, he will quickly start to feel like his old self. The libido will come back with a vengeance, often leading to a healthier marriage as bedroom activities resume for the first time in years. The testosterone treatment also does wonders for raising a man’s spirits and lust for life. It will give him renewed energy and make him feel happier.
There is no need to suffer from male menopause with these great treatments available. There is no shame in admitting the symptoms, so any man suffering from them should talk to his doctor right away about whether male menopause is an issue that needs to be treated.
Derek enjoys blogging about men’s health issues and living a healthy life style. When he is not blogging, he enjoys teaching a night class about healthy eating. The article above is for erectile dysfunction.