If you’re a male in your forties and suspect something may be up with your body then have you considered menopause as a cause. Please don’t delete this article and take it as an insult because the simple truth is, male menopause is something you should learn a little more about.

The issue of menopause in men is a hotly debated one but the evidence is strong that men also suffer the same menopausal-like symptoms that women do. The only difference is, while menopause signals the end of the reproductive stage of a woman’s life, in men, this is not the case.

Male Menopause Debate

This is where the issue of whether men suffer male menopause comes into play. Many believe because a doesn’t completely shut off his ability to produce sperm then it shouldn’t be called menopause.

So should men and menopause be used in the same sentence? The fact remains, men can produce sperm well into their seventies and eighties and this is where the debate rages.

The problem in identifying menopause in men is there is no defined period that a man can experience it. Apart from some isolated instances of women going through it at a much younger age, the general awareness stage starts in their forties.

What Is Andropause?

The term Andropause is a little controversial in some circles for the same reasons mentioned above. So what is Andropause? Well, it’s associated with the decline in a man’s testosterone levels. This is usually as a result of aging and men have reported many symptoms associated with menopause such as:

- sexual issues
- fatigue
- depression
- mood swings

While a woman’s ovaries shut down the man’s testes don’t and can “churn out” sperm well into his 70’s. The similarity is, men can also experience testosterone decline at about the same time women begin the reproduction shut down.

Male Menopause Treatment

So how do you know if male menopause may be affecting you? Your doctor will need to test your testosterone levels and will more than likely call for blood tests.

Many men would even be unaware that male menopause could be at play in their lives and unless the topic is brought up by their spouse, friends or even their doctor, they are probably reluctant to even consider it. So don’t be afraid to speak to your doctor about it.

Treatment may include testosterone replacement therapy however, as is the case with hormone replacement therapy for women, there are side effects possible so discuss these with your doctor. One of the more likely ways to combat menopause in men is making lifestyle changes.