Male Menopause - Fact or Fiction

Hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and irritability are signs of menopause a women – and often her partner – become all too familiar with.  While men are lucky enough to not have such a physical deadline related to their sexual health staring them square in the face, they do experience a decline in sexual functioning, albeit a more gradual one. Andropause, or male menopause, is a condition that occurs in some aging men and is similar to menopause experienced by women.  While certain effects of aging cannot be avoided – no matter how hard one tries – implementing a daily penis care regimen can help fight some signs of penis aging and contribute to the health and well-being of a man’s most favored organ.

What are the symptoms of male menopause?

While men do not go through the same easily recognizable and predictable period in their lives that is comparable to menopause, there is certainly evidence to support that testosterone declines with age.  Male menopause does differ from female menopause in one key way; women stop hormone production entirely, whereas men merely experience a decline. As it stands, the link between male menopause symptoms and the decline in testosterone is still somewhat controversial in the medical world; however, many men experience a certain group of telltale symptoms in conjunction with the decline of the male hormone, which may include:

• Fatigue
• Depression
• Weakness
• Sexual functioning problems
• Decrease in sexual desire
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Loss of concentration
• Decreased motivation
• Sleep disturbance (insomnia and hypersomnia)
• Increase in body fat stores
• Decrease in muscle mass
• Loss of body hair

The age at which testosterone decline first becomes noticeable is different for all men and may occur for some men in their late 40s or early 50s; the decline remains gradual until the age of 70 when there is a more rapid decrease in the hormone.

How is it diagnosed?

An individual who feels he may be experiencing symptoms of male menopause which warrant treatment should seek evaluation by their medical doctor.  A doctor may do the following:

• Ask about symptom severity and duration
• Perform a routine physical
• Measure testosterone levels via a blood test
• Order tests to rule out other contributing conditions such as thyroid conditions, excessive alcohol use, clinical depression, and medication side effects

How is it treated?

Men suffering from low testosterone levels may be candidates for testosterone replacement therapy. Such treatment is aimed at helping to increase sex drive, reduce depression, and improve feelings of fatigue.  Additional lifestyle changes may be recommended to help combat symptoms of male menopause such as improving ones diet, beginning an exercise program, stress reduction or even antidepressants or other medications.

Individuals considering testosterone replacement therapy need to be aware of the potential risk and side effects of the treatment.  Testosterone replacement therapy may have some links to prostate cancer. A doctor can help determine the best course of action regarding treatment and help weigh the pros and cons of testosterone replacement therapy.

Maintaining Penis Health

Taking care of one’s overall physical health goes a long way in maintaining sexual health as well.  Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise, being a non-smoker, avoiding alcohol, managing stress well, and getting plenty of rest are easy ways to keep the body – and penis – running at its optimal level.

Regardless of whether symptoms of male menopause are being experienced or not, caring for the penis now and in the future is an important component of a man’s sexual health.  Daily use of an all-natural penis vitamin creme (most professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) can help keep the penis functioning at peak levels.  A specially formulated penis creme may help increase sensitivity, improve the appearance of aging skin, and help repair damage on the cellular level.