May 11
9
Male Menopause (Andropause) – Defined
Male Menopause (Andropause) – Defined
Andropause (or Male Menopause) is a multi-dimensional change of life with hormonal, physical, psychological, interpersonal, social, sexual, and spiritual aspects. All men go through Male Menopause, generally between the ages of 40 and 55, though it can occur as early as 35 or as late as 65. It signals the end of the first part of a man’s life, and gets him ready for the second half. Just as adolescence is the transitional phase between childhood and adulthood, Andropause is the passage between first adulthood and second adulthood.
The term “male menopause” is misleading. Men never begin having menstrual periods and so they don’t stop having them. Unlike women, men can continue to have children late into their lives. But when it comes to other life changes, women’s and men’s experience are quite similar.
The concept of Male Menopause is not a new phenomenon. Heller and Myers (1944) identified symptoms of what they labeled the “male climacteric” including loss of libido and potency, nervousness, depression, impaired memory, the inability to concentrate, fatigue, insomnia, hot flushes, and sweating. Heller and Myers observed that their patients had below normal levels of testosterone and that symptoms improved dramatically when patients were given replacement doses of testosterone.
The notion of Male Menopause or Andropause is accepted more widely in Australia, England and Europe than in the U.S.. There are many who believe that since men can continue to reproduce into old age, they don’t experience Male Menopause. Others feel that Male Menopause is real, but is synonymous with hypogonadism (low testosterone levels).
Dr. John Morley (2000) has developed a ten-item survey to screen for Male Menopause. Survey questions such as:
1.Do you have a decrease in sex drive (libido)?
2.Do you have a lack of energy?
3.Do you have a decrease in endurance and/or strength?
4.Have you lost height?
5.Have you noticed a decreased “enjoyment of life”?
6.Are you sad and/or grumpy?
7.Are your erections less strong?
8.Have you noticed a recent deterioration in your ability to play sports?
9.Are you falling asleep after dinner?
10. Has there been a recent deterioration in your work performance?
If a man answers yes to questions 1 or 7 and/or yes to any three other questions, Dr. Morely deems that there is evidence that he is going through Male Menopause and may need to have testosterone levels checked.
A significant problems for men going through Male Menopause is depression, yet it is often times under-diagnosed. Failure to diagnose depression can be deadly. The suicide rate for men forty-five to sixty-four is three times higher than the rate for women of the same age. For men over sixty-five the rate is seven times higher.
I’ve identified several intervention strategies that have been effective. Some of these include:
Hormone replacement therapy,
Stress reduction, exercise, dietary changes,
Chinese medicine, herbal treatments, acupuncture,
Couple counseling, career refocusing, and spiritual support,
Sexual complusivity treatment, chemical dependency treatment
Treatment for depression.
Finding and engaging one’s “calling” in the second half of life.
For the last 40 plus years I’ve been dedicated to helping men and the women who love them. I’ve written a book on Male Menopause which provides an extensive analysis and solutions. For more information go to http://SurvivingMaleMenopause.com
Dr. Jed Diamond has been helping men, and the women who love them, for over 40 years. He has written 8 books, including Male Menopause, The Irritable Male Syndrome, and Mr Mean. He is passionate about helping transform relationships and make the world a better place for us all.
Article from articlesbase.com
Andropause or “male menopause” is the decline of male hormonal function. Similar to the feminine counterpart menopause, andropause is distinguished by a drop in hormone levels, most notably testosterone. This generally occurs between the ages of 40 and 55 but can occur much earlier. Testosterone levels peak in men at age 25 and decline 1 to 2% per year thereafter. While women have a clear-cut sign of occurrence, the cessation of menstruation, to mark this transition, men typically have a slower decline and more subtle onset of symptoms, which becomes more pronounced. Frequently the changes which accompany andropause are: • Attitude and mood • Fatigue • Loss of energy • Decreased Sex drive • Diminished physical agility • Abdominal weight gain (incorrectly attributed to “inevitable” aging and middle-age stress) The degenerative and inflammatory effects of andropause progress if left untreated and can in-crease the risk of significant health problems like heart disease, weak bones, elevated cholesterol and diabetes.
