Andropause does not affect all men with the same intensity. Many of the male menopause symptoms are similar to those women experience with menopause, and it is possible for symptoms to range from being mildly uncomfortable to erupting as severe as those reported by some menopausal women. Symptoms and signs of menopause in men can include the following:
- Loss of libido
- Depression
- Increased irritability and/or mood swings
- Hot flushes (yes, male hot flashes do occur)
- Insomnia
- Lethargy
- Loss of lean body mass
- Loss of bone mass/density (which increases the risk of fracture)
- Decline in strength and/or endurance
- Increasing difficulty attaining and maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction)
About 40% of men ages 40 to 60 experience some of these symptoms to varying degrees, and the percentage continues to rise after 60. Perhaps the most distressing symptom of andropause is the onset of erection difficulties, which can escalate into full-blown erectile dysfunction, along with male loss of libido. However, erectile dysfunction is not an inevitable part of male menopause.
In fact, most men remain sexually active up to age 70 and beyond unless they have health problems that affect erectile function, such as diabetes, heart disease, or obesity. Between 15% and 25% of men age 65 have chronic erectile dysfunction, while for a greater percentage of older men, erectile problems occur only occasionally. For some men, however, stress and anxiety surrounding the development of andropause symptoms causes them to experience erectile dysfunction, and then their mental state can perpetuate the problem. In such cases, an understanding partner and perhaps counseling for erectile dysfunction can dispel the problem.
See also
10 Signs of Testosterone Deficiency
Factors that Decrease Testosterone
Natural Ways to Increase Testosterone
Supplements that Increase Testosterone
Causes of Estrogen Dominance in Men
