The spotlight may be on women but men sure do have them too! Male menopause or andropause—as called within medical community—is a phase in a man’s life when his testosterone levels gradually decrease resulting to symptoms similar to that of a woman’s menopause. However, unlike that of a woman’s, male menopause occurs at a very gradual pace. Due to this, male menopause can go undetected for years. Also, decrease in testosterone level varies from one male to another which means some men may experience them early in their lives while other may not have them at all.
Andropause has its own set of symptoms. Again, symptoms vary from one male to another—in fact, some older males with low testosterone levels haven’t had symptoms at all. Here are known symptoms of andropause:
·    Changes in your sexual drive. A man undergoing andropause may experience reduced sexual drive and encounter erection problems during the act itself. Then there’s the issue of infertility.
·    Insomnia and other sleeping disorders. Are you having a hard time falling asleep? Or perhaps waking several times during the night for no apparent reason.
·    Physical changes. Muscle mass are beginning to shrink, lesser energy throughout the day, and hair loss. Most hated of them all, notice how easy it is now to grow fats, no matter how hard you diet.
·    Mood swings. Depression, confusion, lack of motivation and self-confidence.
Please take note that these symptoms are also the exact same things you may experience when aging. Also, other illnesses and diseases may cause one or two of these symptoms too like hair loss and mood swings–even your medications can do that! With that said, you need to consider these things first before concluding you’re having an andropause. Also, a man can never be certain if he is indeed having one up until he gets himself tested for it.
If you feel you’re having an andropause, the best option for you is to consult your healthcare provider to assess your situation and arrive to the best possible treatment for you. Do know that like menopause, there are treatments available for andropause too. A strong support system can help you tremendously so seek them whenever possible. This can be your closest friend who is also undergoing the same things or perhaps your partner, so she’ll know what’s going on with you. Andropause is a lot to handle, never try to conquer it alone. Get as much help as possible and be honest with what you feel, especially with your doctor.