Man-O-Pause

Is there any such thing as male menopause?

There are a lot of things that change as we age. Most of us have lost a step (or two or three) in atheletic performance over the years, we may feel like we don't learn as quickly as we did in our twenties, then there's the sexual performance thing, and as we've gained weight we may have felt like giving up and, like Peyton Manning says, "buy some bigger shirts".

One of the things that is inevitable as men age is a decline in the main male hormone, testosterone. As opposed to the dramatic plummetting of hormones in women at the time of menopause, testosterone decline in men typically happens much more gradually. Testosterone levels fall at an average rate of 1 percent per year after the age of 30 and, by the age of 70, may be only half of what they were in young adulthood. Because of this subtle decline, the symptoms of a relative hormone deficiency may go unnoticed for years.

What Symptoms are Caused by Low Testosterone?

In men, testosterone helps maintain bone density, muscle mass, muscle strength, sex drive, sperm production, red blood cell production, fat metabolism, and brain function. A deficiency of testosterone may result in:

• Depression and mood changes
• Memory loss or loss of mental focus
• Loss of muscle mass and strength
• Increase of body fat (and difficulty losing weight)
• Decreased general enery level
• Loss of bone density
• Decrease in sexual function and libido

Unfortunately, some men don't seek help for these symptoms and may suffer with symptoms of testosterone deficiency for years without ever being tested. The good news is that a simple blood test can determine whether or not a man has an abnormally low testosterone level that may need to be treated.

If you are experiencing any symptoms that may be an indication of a deficiency of testosterone, or if you would simply like to be screened, click HERE to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians.