information provided by: Cherie C. Binns RN BS MSCN
By: MSF
Staff and reviewed by the MSF Medical Advisory Board
Menopause is
not a word you would expect to see in an article about men’s health. But guess
what? There really is such a thing as male menopause. This is the name
sometimes given to the naturally occurring reduction of androgens, the
substance that produces or stimulates male hormones. Generally, this is called
andropause or male menopause. Technically, though, these names refer to Partial
Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (PADAM).
This is a
normal part of aging. These bodily changes occur gradually and may be
accompanied by altered attitude and mood. Changes in libido and physical
agility, as well as an overall feeling of fatigue, may become apparent.
Unlike
menopause, which generally occurs during a woman’s mid-forties to mid-fifties,
a man’s “transition” may be much more gradual, extending over several decades.
Attitude, psychological stress, alcohol, injuries, surgery, medications,
obesity and infections can all contribute to the onset of andropause. Although
with age, a decline in testosterone levels will occur in virtually all men (1
to 1.5% annually), there is no way of predicting who will experience
andropausal symptoms of sufficient severity to seek medical help. Neither is it
predictable at what age symptoms will occur in a particular individual. Some
men are impacted at age 35, others at 50. Each man’s symptoms will be
different. A recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that
“male androgens progressively decline with age.” The study tested androgen
levels at age 25 and by age 70 androgen levels were only 10 percent of what
they were during youth.
Andropause is
not new. It was first described in the Journal of the American Medical
Association in the mid-1940s. Yet, only recently has the U.S. medical community
taken notice of this condition and gained the ability to diagnose it properly.
Many people experiencing the symptoms of andropause have endured an extended
period of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
Generally, a
man’s life span is now longer than it once was. This has led to a heightened
interest in andropause among medical researchers. Treatment options include
oral capsules, injections and skin patches. To date, very few side effects have
been observed. Testosterone therapy has proven effective in relieving andropausal
symptoms, usually within three to six weeks’ time. Many men claim improved
sexual performance, a feeling of health and vitality along with an overall
sense of well being.
It is important
to realize that changes in libido, increased fatigue and decreased physical
agility are also symptoms of MS. For that reason, a diagnosis of andropause may
be overlooked. After your next blood work and physical exam, ask your doctor if
you might be a suitable candidate for testosterone replacement.
For more
information on andropause, visit www.andropause.com.
(Last reviewed
7/2009)
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