As soon as we hear or look at the word ‘Menopause’, we instantly relate it with women. Menopause in women refers to the discontinuation of the menstrual cycle, a phase during which many changes occur in their bodies. But surprisingly, menopause occurs not only in women but in men too. This condition in men is known as ‘Andropause’. To understand it in detail, the ETV Bharat Sukhibhava team interviewed Dr. Rahul Reddy, Consultant Microsurgical Andrologist, Hyderabad.
What Is Andropause?
Andropause is an indicator of hormonal changes occurring in men after the age of fifty to sixty. This phase in men is also known as Androgen Deficiency in Aging Male (ADAM). Dr. Rahul explains that along with many other changes during menopause in women, a major change that occurs is a decrease in the levels of the estrogen hormone in the body. Similarly, during andropause, the levels of testosterone, as well as androgen hormone, decreases in males. Testosterone is that hormone that is believed to be majorly responsible for arousing sexual desires in men. Therefore, along with its effects on a man’s sexual life, his mental and physical health too can be affected during andropause.
Symptoms Of Menopause In Males
Dr. Reddy explains that testosterone hormone deficiency has a major impact on men's health and its symptoms are similar to that of andropause. Some of the common symptoms as seen in men are as follow:
- Weakness and lack of energy in the body
- The occurrence of problems like obesity, blood pressure, and diabetes
- Mood swings, sleeplessness or lack of quality sleep, loss of confidence, difficulty in concentrating, depression, stress, or sadness
- The decrease in the level of hemoglobin
- Decreased bone density, weakness, and pain in the joints
- Loss of sex drive and other problems like erectile dysfunction and infertility
Difference In Male And Female Menopause
Some of the symptoms and effects of menopause are similar in women and men, as there is a decrease in sex hormones in both. Also, they both may face issues such as irritability, forgetfulness, stress, frequent mood swings, being more angry or frustrated, etc. However, one of the major differences between them is that women can not reproduce after menopause, whereas men are capable of becoming a father even after andropause.
Dealing With Testosterone Deficiency
Dr. Rahul explains that when the level of testosterone starts decreasing during the Andropause stage in men, the situation can be reversed with the help of medication or therapy. Testosterone Supplementation Therapy or TST can be useful here, in which testosterone is injected in a person once in every three months. However, it can have certain side effects related to the liver or the thickening of the blood. Dr. Rahul also says that those men who have been suffering from prostate cancer should not take this therapy as it can increase the complexity of their disease.
