Male menopause isn’t a medical term and some health professionals have even dismissed it as a myth. Yet age-related testosterone decline is a thing, and low T symptoms can impact your quality of life, from low sex drive to weight gain.
So, what’s the deal - is male menopause real? Read on to find out.
What is the male menopause?
Strictly speaking, there’s no male equivalent of menopause, which is when ovulation ceases and periods stop. Rather, reproductive aging in men is slow and gradual. There’s no set point where you reach “male menopause” nor a clearly defined transition period into it.
That’s why male menopause (also called “andropause”) isn’t a medical term. But people sometimes use it to refer to the natural decline in testosterone that happens as you age. If levels drop too low and cause symptoms, this can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
Yet the term “male menopause” has some value in helping men describe what they’re going through. People are already familiar with menopause in women, so “male menopause” is an analogy that’s easy to understand.
Male menopause symptoms
So, what are the signs of “male menopause”? Symptoms of low testosterone may include:
- Mood swings, irritability
- Reduced tolerance to exercise
- Tiredness and low energy
- Trouble sleeping
- Low sex drive
What causes male menopause?
Low testosterone levels can happen due to ageing, but not always. Low T impacts around one in four men, and it can occur at any age.
Plenty of factors can influence testosterone, too, such as:
- Lifestyle: stress, poor diet, smoking, lack of sleep, alcohol
- Metabolic conditions: type 2 diabetes, obesity. This is a two-way relationship: these conditions increase your risk of low T, while low T ups your chance of developing these conditions
- Thyroid issues
- A range of mild to moderate medical conditions such as asthma, inflammatory bowel problems, sleep apnoea, chronic kidney disease, genetic conditions, and many more.
- Certain medical treatments may affect the testes, including chemotherapy, certain pain medications, and even anti-fungal medicines.
Identifying testosterone deficiency isn’t always straightforward. Symptoms of low T overlap with the effects of stress, aging or having a sedentary lifestyle. And to make things more confusing: any of these factors can in turn lower your testosterone.
At MANUAL, our team of clinicians will work with you to get to the bottom of your symptoms. And, if you’re eligible, we can get you started on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) right away—most men either have no TRT side effects or only mild, short-lived ones.
You can get started by ordering a simple at-home blood test to check your T levels.
What age does male menopause start?
Your testosterone levels peak when you’re 19 and then gradually start to decline from age 30, at a rate of about 1% per year. Though that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll experience low T symptoms.
Some men do get symptoms in their late 40s and early 50s, but low T can also impact younger men too.
How long does male menopause last?
Declining testosterone is an ongoing process rather than a fixed period. So, we can’t say for sure when your T will stop falling.
But low T symptoms can hang around if you don’t treat them. Having low T over long periods of time can also cause problems like low bone density and loss of muscle.
Some people see benefits from TRT within a few weeks, like improved sex drive and quality of life. Here at MANUAL, men on TRT often tell us that their concentration and motivation have improved, leading to a promotion at work or giving them the confidence to make a big life change. They’ve also said that it’s helped their relationships.
Male menopause treatments
So, what are your options if you have low T?
- Lifestyle change: regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, sleeping well, drinking less alcohol
- If there is a reversible underlying medical cause, treat that first and it may correct your testosterone production
- Testosterone replacement therapy
Lifestyle change is usually the first port of call. But if your symptoms don’t clear after that, it’s worth getting your testosterone checked. This will confirm whether you’re dealing with low T or something else.
Check if you’re eligible for TRT with our quick, at-home finger-prick blood test.
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