Male Menopause

Male menopause or Andropause is a name that has been given to a menopause-like condition in aging men. This relates to the slow but steady reduction of the production of the hormones testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone in middle-aged men, and the consequences of that reduction.

Unlike women, middle-aged men do not experience a complete and permanent physiological shutting down of the reproductive system as a normal event, though a steady decline in testosterone levels with age (in both men and women) is well documented.

The impact of low levels of testosterone has been previously reported and include loss of libido and potency, nervousness, depression, impaired memory, the inability to concentrate, fatigue, insomnia, hot flushes, and sweating.

researchers have found that their subjects’ symptoms improved dramatically when they were given replacement doses of testosterone.

Some of the current popular interest in the concept of male menopause has been fueled by the book Male Menopause, written by Jed Diamond, an NABBW Associate.

According to Diamond, male menopause is a change of life in middle-aged men, which has hormonal, physical, psychological, interpersonal, social, sexual, and spiritual aspects. Diamond claims that this change occurs in all men, generally between the ages of 40 and 55, though it can occur as early as 35 or as late as 65.

Diamond claims that, in terms of life impacts, women’s and men’s experience with menopause are somewhat similar.

The concept of andropause is perhaps more widely accepted in Australia and some parts of Europe than it is in the United States.[17]