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5 Things You Must Know About Male Menopause

1. Not quite defined

Unlike female menopause, male menopause does not have a specific time period or a certain age from which it is expected to happen, neither is it associated with specific symptoms. Due to this reasons, there has been a debate over the issue on whether it actually exists. Male menopause has also been referred to as androgen decline. This is a drop in the levels of testosterone as well as a variation in the functionality of the testes which occur as the men grow older.

2. Slowdown symptoms

There are various characteristics symptoms of male menopause and they include tiredness, sexual complications, dejection and weakness. These symptoms can manifest themselves from the age of forty five years with the occurrence rate being quite high with men who are above the age of seventy years. However, the link between these symptoms and male menopause is a highly contentious topic within the medical fraternity. When established, the doctor will then carry out a series of blood tests for the purpose of finding out the hormonal levels with more interest being on the testosterone levels.

3. Testosterone treatment

After tests have been done and the person in question has been found to have reduced levels of testosterone, then the physician can opt to use testosterone replacement therapy as the treatment option. This is after the patient has been notified on all the side effects and possible dangers linked to this therapy and any other available alternatives. It is also possible that a physician may advice the patient to make certain changes to their lifestyle. This may include exercise as well as a diet change. Another treatment option can be the use of certain antidepressant medications, this should be taken with caution since they come with various side effects.

4. Negative lifestyles

In as much as the decrease in testosterone levels is the main cause of male menopause, there are various other factors which have been known to also play a major role in the cause of male menopause. These factors include, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, poor diet and lack of exercise. The best way to work towards improving your diet is by consuming foods which are low in fat and high in fiber content. Another possible contributory factor is over the counter medication. It is therefore necessary for you to discuss these issues with your doctor.

5. Not described as midlife crisis

It is necessary for you not to confuse male menopause with midlife crisis as they are extremely different things. The reason for this is because male menopause has been linked to various physical factors while a midlife crisis is basically a psycho-social issue with the root cause being mental problems. However , with this said you should not immediately come to a conclusion whenever you notice your behavior or that of someone else change and conclude it to be midlife crisis as it may not necessarily be so. The best way to go about it is by consulting with your physician who is in a better position to give you an accurate diagnosis.