About Male Menopause

MYTH: Male menopause is real.

FACT: No, it’s not real. The term “menopause” only pertains to the female condition when the ability to reproduce is halted. Testosterone is the male sex hormone that is needed for growth of body hair, building strong bones and muscles, and producing sperm. As men age, testosterone levels (T-levels) can decline because of medication, illness, injury or lifestyle factors. This drop in testosterone is inaccurately classified as “male menopause,” when in fact, should simply be considered a symptom of male aging, more clinically referred to as testosterone deficiency syndrome, androgen deficiency of the aging male, and late-onset hypogonadism. Visit hormone.org for more information.

Male Aging Facts 

Female Aging Facts 

 Testosterone production/ levels decrease gradually beginning around age 30

Estrogen (female sex hormone) production drops rapidly beginning around age 40

 Sperm production does not stop

Egg production stops completely

 Not all men experience low testosterone and sperm production

All women experience low estrogen and egg production

What are the causes of low testosterone?

  • Certain medications

  • Hormone disorders

  • Radiation/chemotherapy treatment

  • Testicular injury

  • Genetic condition

  • Chronic illness (depression, diabetes, liver/ kidney disease, obesity, HIV/AIDS)

How is low testosterone diagnosed?

  • Physical exam by health care provider

  • Tests to rule out other health problems

  • Blood tests to check T-level. If T-level is low, you may be referred to an endocrinologist.

What are the possible symptoms of low testosterone?

  • Reduced energy

  • Enlargement of breasts

  • Loss of body hair

  • Decline in sexual function (erections, sex drive)

  • Decreased bone density

  • Increased body fat/reduced muscle

  • Hot flashes (rare)

  • Irritability; trouble remembering; trouble concentrating; depression

Not all men experience these symptoms. However, ones who do, encounter them for no apparent reason other than age, usually advanced age.

What are prescription treatment options?

  • Long-term benefits and risks are unknown

  • Patches/topical gels

  • Shots/injections

  • Tablets between cheeks and gums

You’ve seen the ads for over-the-counter supplements to help men with “low-T” (low testosterone), but do you really need them?

No. There are ways for aging men to help naturally maintain health:

  • Eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight

  • Get plenty of exercise

  • Get enough sleep

  • Find healthy ways to cope with stress

These lifestyle factors have not been shown to maintain T-levels.

Long-term use of testosterone treatment can cause:

  • high red blood cell count

  • acne

  • breast enlargement

  • sleep apnea (rare)

Editor(s): Bradley Anawalt, M.D., Alvin Matsumoto, M.D.

Male Menopause Tests

Testes

Find an Endocrinologist

Find an endocrinologist today to ensure that you are on the path to health with the right medical care. Keep Your Body In Balance

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN...

Patient Guide|June 2019

Truth About Testosterone Therapy

Testosterone therapy is only recommended for hypogonadism patients. Boosting testosterone is NOT approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help improve your strength, athletic performance, physical appearance, or to treat or prevent problems associated with aging. Using testosterone for these purposes may be harmful to your health. Learn More!

  • Condition|May 2017

    Low Testosterone

    Testosterone is the most important sex hormone in men. Low testosterone comes with age with a higher prevalence in older men, obese men, and men with type 2 diabetes. Learn more about low testosterone, including how it affects men's hormone health and what treatment options are available.

  • Infographic|January 2014

    Anatomy of a Mood Swing

    Our goal is to translate complex health care information into simplified visual snapshots that will move you from educated to engaged, from informed to active partners in your healthcare.

    Source: Hormone Health Network

    THE TRUTH ABOUT MALE MENOPAUSE

    Is Male Menopause Real?

    | Family Medicine

    Hormonal changes can affect men physically and emotionally

    Menopause is often associated with hot flashes and mood swings in women. So, do hormonal changes with similar symptoms occur in men as they age? Is male menopause a real medical issue?

    The answer is yes. But male menopause is just one easy way to describe it.

     

    Male menopause is a condition that affects older men. It carries a set of symptoms that are linked to declining testosterone levels and aging. It is also referred to as andropause, androgen decline in the aging male, late onset hypogonadism and low testosterone.

    “Not every man will experience this. But the symptoms are very real,” says Luigi Simone, MD, a family medicine physician at Scripps Clinic Encinitas with a special focus on men’s health. “There’s a reason it’s called male menopause. It’s because it can produce many of the same symptoms as female menopause.”

    Those symptoms include irritability, weight gain, low sex drive and function, problems sleeping, depression, fatigue and loss of strength. It may even include hot flashes.

    While doctors can treat these symptoms, male menopause is difficult to identify. That’s because the symptoms in many cases may have nothing to do with testosterone deficiency, but with other conditions.

    Why do men experience low testosterone?

    Testosterone is the hormone responsible for the development of male sexual characteristics. It’s normal for levels to decline in men as they age. After 40, levels begin to decline by about 1 percent every year. The rate can be affected by chronic disease, such as obesity, diabetes, and medication.

    A decline in testosterone and symptoms that may arise are gradual compared to what women experience during menopause.

    “These midlife changes are often more subtle in men than in women,” says Dr. Simone. “Women experience a complete shutdown of ovarian hormone production at menopause. The decline in testosterone in men is slow.”

    Male menopause symptoms

    A gradual decline of testosterone is a normal part of aging. But an unusually low level of testosterone could mean it is male menopause. Other symptoms include:

    • Erectile dysfunction, or inability to achieve or sustain an erection

    • A decreased sex drive and infertility

    • Depression, fatigue, insomnia

    • Increased body fat, reduced muscle mass and decreased bone density.

    These symptoms may also occur in older males with heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Physicians can order tests to rule out any medical problem that may be contributing to these symptoms.

    What does a blood test do?

    A blood test can confirm whether a man has low testosterone and if treatment is needed. Treatment options may include testosterone replacement therapy. This may help relieve symptoms, such as loss of sex drive, fatigue and depression.

    If you are considering replacement therapy, make sure to discuss the potential risks and side effects with your doctor. Replacing testosterone, for example, may worsen prostate cancer and increase the risk of heart disease.

    Lifestyle changes

    Your doctor may very well recommend certain lifestyle or other changes to help with some of the symptoms of male menopause.

    “I encourage every man to ask his doctor about ways to manage stress, optimize health and enjoy life to its fullest,” Dr. Simone says.

    “There are so many things men can do at home as well,” he adds. “Good health is not just about eating right and getting exercise. It’s just as important to have a good laugh, enjoy some alone time and connect with friends. Having sex is also good for your mind and body because it relieves stress and helps to keep your prostate healthy.”

    Source: Scripps