What is Male Menopause
WHAT IS MALE MENOPAUSE? Male menopause, is a distinct physiological phenomenon that is in many way’s very similar to, yet in some ways quite different from the female menopause.
Menopause is a condition most often associated with women, It occurs in a women when she ceases to menstruate and can no longer become pregnant. Men experience a different type of ‘menopause’ of life change. It usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 60. Unlike women, men can continue to father children, but the production of the male sex hormone (testosterone) diminishes gradually after age 40.
Testosterone is the hormone that stimulates sexual development in the male infant, bone and muscle growth in adult males, and is responsible for sexual drive. It has been found that even in healthy men, by the age the 50′s, the amount of testosterone secreted into the bloodstream is significantly lower than it is just ten – fifteen years earlier. In fact, by age 80, most male hormone levels decrease to pre-puberty levels. [See Menopause, Androgens & Testosterone]
In the year 1944, what we now describe as the male menopause was reported in a key article by two American doctors, Dr. Carl Heller and Dr. Gordon Myers. They compared the symptoms with those of the female menopause, and did a blind controlled trial study showing the effectiveness of testosterone treatment.
Unfortunately, like many pioneering efforts, this went unnoticed. Men were unwilling to accept that they could attain ‘menopause’ and such research was often hurriedly brushed under the carpet. Men with genuine symptoms were told that ‘this is just a mid-life crisis’ Besides, testosterone therapy had come into disrepute because of its abuse by athletes and the concept of testosterone replacement therapy for male menopausal symptoms was not received very well. Further, there was much hype about the side effects of testosterone, especially prostate cancer.
It was only after HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) with estrogens produced tangible symptomatic improvement and ‘aging reversal’ in post-menopausal women that men sat up and, not wanting to get left behind their womenfolk, began to take notice! [See Estrogen]
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? The symptoms of male menopause are not as overwhelming as the ones women experience and male menopause does not affect all men. Approximately 40% of men between 40 and 60 years of age will experience some degree of lethargy, depression, increased irritability, mood swings, hot flashes, insomnia, decreased libido, weakness, loss of both lean body mass and bone mass (making them susceptible to hip fractures) and difficulty in attaining and sustaining erections (impotence). [See Hot Flashes]
For these individuals, such unanticipated physical and psychological changes can be a major cause for concern or even crisis. Without and understanding partner, these problems may result in a powerful combination of anxieties and doubts, which can lead to total impotence and sexual frustration.
A recent aging study showed that 51% of normal, healthy males aged 40 to 70 experience some degree of impotence – defined as a persistent problem attaining and maintaining an erection rigid enough for sexual intercourse. This problem cannot be attributed to the aging process alone, however, because well over 40% of males remain sexually active at 70 years of age and beyond. [See Aging & Sexuality] Improved Semen Study
DO YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS?
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Decrease in sex drive
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Lack of energy
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Decrease in strength and or endurance
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Loss of height
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Decreased “enjoyment of life”
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Sad and or grumpy
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Erections less strong
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Deterioration in sports ability
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Falling asleep after dinner meal
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Decreased work performance
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Mood swings
Although all the causes of male menopause have not been fully researched, some factors that are known to contribute to this condition are hormone deficiencies, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, hypertension, prescription and non prescription medications, poor diet, lack of exercise, poor circulation, and psychological problems. A general decline in potency at mid-life can be expected in a significant proportion of the male population.
UROLOGY CLINICAL STUDY:
Urology Vol 55 Issue 4 (April 2000) 598-602
The Conclusion of This Study: The oral administration of Maca enhanced the sexual function of mice and rats, as evidenced by an increase in the number of population in this study. The study revealed for the first time an aphrodisiac activity of Maca, an Peruvian Mountain Herb.