It’s a myth that it is only women who go through the menopause. Men are just as likely to suffer from it too. It is more commonly referred to in men as the mid-life crisis. When we see men at this age acting completely out of the normal we joke and say ‘Get over it.’ Unfortunately for a lot of men male menopause is far more serious than we realize. During this time men experience a drop in hormone levels and feel totally out of sorts.

Male menopause is also called Andropause. What this means is that there is a gradual decline in the man’s testosterone levels but the surprising thing is that not all men go through male menopause. The reason for this is still unknown.

By the age of 50 half of all men’s testosterone levels will drop thus causing all sorts of ailments to their bodies. For some men male menopause occurs naturally and they manage to get through it without any major hassles. In most cases though andropause is triggered by certain illnesses, depression, dementia, obesity and cancer.

Testosterone is the male sex hormone that is responsible for creating and releasing sperm. Testosterone also provides men’s muscular strength and initiates their sex drive. When the testosterone levels drop men will experience much of the same symptoms as women going through the menopause but with less intensity. These symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, tiredness plus muscle and joint aches. They also suffer from depression, listlessness and mood swings.

Men who go through the menopause find sex a major issue to deal with. They become deeply worried and concerned with their inability to maintain an erection. They can’t understand what is happening to their bodies and begin to feel that they can no longer enjoy a healthy sex life. They begin to question their libido which up to now has never let them down.

More often than not they won’t speak to their partners or doctor about it as they feel embarrassed and feel isolated by their situation. Up until recently doctors did not take male menopause very seriously but recent studies have shown that they are becoming more aware of how serious it actually is.

The good news is that male menopause can be treated by a testosterone replacement therapy. This replacement will bring hormonal levels back up to a healthy level. Once the levels are increased men will experience fewer symptoms but they don’t always work well to combat erectile dysfunction. For most men this is a severe blow to their manhood but there are other treatments that can be looked into.

For a lot of men growing older comes as a great shock and they can’t handle what is happening to their bodies. We are inundated with pictures and screen images of sexy and more virile men but in reality we should look to growing older as a great privilege.

It is important to read as much as you can about what is happening to your body as you age so you can be prepared for the changes that occur. You can be rest assured that you are not alone in the changes that are happening to you and that you need to seek help if you feel any of these kinds of symptoms. All men won’t be affected in the same way so it is important to talk to somebody about the changes happening to your body.

Forewarned is Forearmed.