Male Menopause Treatment

Male menopause treatment was almost unheard of until recently. It is now acknowledged that women are not the only ones suffering from the effects of changing hormones. Doctors are increasingly noticing that their male patients are reporting similar symptoms to those reported by women going through the female menopause.

Although there is some debate over whether the male menopause (also known as the andropause) is as well-defined as the female menopause, some male patients have reported significant changes in their symptoms as a result of taking testosterone, which is said to be the "male menopause treatment", equivalent to hrt for women.

What Is The Male Menopause?

There is no doubt that testosterone production does decline as men age. Along with this, many men experience symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, lowered sex drive, erection difficulties, irritability and depression and lack of interest in life in general. Men often maintain the ability to make testosterone well into old age and because of this, there is no well-defined period as there is for women. This decline in testosterone tends to happen from the forties onwards.

How Is The Male Menopause Diagnosed?

A doctor will often perform a physical examination and will ask about the symptoms to rule out the possibility that the symptoms are due to another underlying cause. He/she may arrange for a blood test to check on testosterone and other hormone levels.

Male Menopause Treatment

Testosterone replacement therapy is an option and this may help relieve some of the symptoms. However, as with hrt in women, testosterone replacement therapy does potentially have some side effects and risks. Life style changes can help rather than using testosterone as can a new diet and exercise regime. Other medications such as antidepressants may be more appropriate for the individual symptoms.