Male Hormone Levels and Menopause

he symptoms can include depression, fatigue and irritability. Physical symptoms can include erectile dysfunction and the resultant loss of libido. The most dramatic testosterone changes occurs after age 70

There has been a lot of talk recently about male menopause and if it is reality or just a theory. The studies seem to center on the gradual hormone changes males experience as they age and relating the changes to those experienced by females as they encounter menopause. Men experience a decrease in testosterone by 1% yearly beginning at around age 30. They can start noticing symptoms by the time they hit their late forties and early fifties. The symptoms can include depression, fatigue and irritability. Physical symptoms can include erectile dysfunction and the resultant loss of libido. The most dramatic testosterone changes occurs after age 70 in males at which time the common thought would be that it is age related or so the non-scientific person would have that thought process going on. Females are most concerned about pre-menopause and menopause and the associated symptoms starting in their forties when their minds start thinking about "the change of life" and what it will mean to them individually. Do men think about what life will be like after age 50? It is common knowledge that men can go through what has been termed a "mid-life crisis", is this in some way connected to the issue of male menopause?

The possibility of male menopause is a controversial subject in the medical community as the debate goes on regarding if the symptoms can be related to menopause in a well-defined and definitely related pattern. Some physicians are referring to the symptoms as "androgen" which is simply a decline in the male hormone associated with the natural aging process. The debate is based on the fact that the symptoms of fatigue, weakness, depression and irritability can be associated with other conditions or diseases such as diabetes, depression and a normal state of declined age versus males who are exhibiting these symptoms isolated from other conditions and age. If the symptoms are isolated can they be classified as male menopause?

Researchers and scientists are looking for a clear connection between the symptoms and the decrease in testosterone. Males whom are experiencing symptoms can be examined by their physician who will take a medical history, conduct a physical exam which will help to rule out any medical conditions or diseases. There will also be blood tests involved to ascertain what the FHS and other hormone levels are in the bloodstream.

Should the blood tests show that the male has a low testosterone level for his age, the treatment of choice is to receive testosterone-replacement therapy. This treatment will relieve the libido problems and the fatigue and irritability but may carry some potential risks or side effects such as the chance that prostate cancer if present could worsen; the decision for treatment must be weighted against this possibility.

The good news is that hormonal levels are something that can be tangibly measured. Stats are known regarding what normal hormone levels are for each age group and for each sex. Abnormalities can be detected and monitored. The tricky part comes when the results need to be interpreted and the cause for any abnormal results determined.