For any man, growing older can be a scary experience no matter how it’s perceived. Although you probably think that you’d age like wine as the years go by, the truth is that aging is more than just having a badge to rock the “salt-and-pepper” look. Regardless of who you are, we are all exposed to the same pains of growing older because age knows no gender, no creed, or no race.
At this point, you’ve probably concerned yourself with a host of different problems in relation to growing older because the signs are bound to start showing no matter how much you try to avoid them. Amid these different experiences that you may be fearing, there’s one term that’s most likely going to send shivers down your spine: male menopause.
Exploring a modern age phenomenon
While the concept and experience of menopause are something that any man will associate with womanhood, many in recent years have looked further into the possibility that men can also experience the same thing.
When men get to their late 40s or early 50s, the most common concern they begin to notice are fine lines and wrinkles. In addition, men in the this age range are most likely to begin seeing the startling signs like:
- Mood swings and irritability
- Depression
- Loss of sex drive (and accompanying erectile dysfunction)
- Loss of muscle mass and reduced ability to exercise
- Fat redistribution, such as developing a large belly or “man boobs” (gynecomastia)
- A general lack of enthusiasm or energy
- Difficulty sleeping (insomnia) or increased tiredness
- Poor concentration and short-term memory
Considering that these same symptoms are commonly seen in the average case of menopause in an older woman, many men and medical experts are beginning to view this experience as what could be male menopause. At this point, the occurrence of men experiencing severe physical and emotional conditions as they age has become so common to the point where it has a name: Andropause.
So, is there such a thing?
Well, here’s the truth: it’s not necessarily true, and the label itself is as misleading as it gets.
It may not seem like such a major label, but the concept of Andropause itself is misleading because it implies a drop in testosterone levels in middle age—which isn’t exactly the case. While it is undeniable that the natural disposition of the male body is to see testosterone levels fall as men age, the fact is that the body naturally sees a decline of less than two per cent per year. This shows that the concept of male menopause is flawed and improbable since a sudden drop (which is caused by age) in gender-specific hormones is the main cause for a condition like menopause.
What can you do to manage the effects of aging?
Beyond the fact that male menopause itself is a flawed concept, it’s still worth noting that the same problems mentioned early in this article and their associated effects are very much real.
Beating such a problem and preventing it from affecting you typically boils down to avoiding potential triggers that can hamper your body’s natural ability to stay in shape. Such triggers include a lack of sleep, a poor diet, bad habits (such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption), and a lack of exercise—all of which may cause a decline in the body’s condition.
Aside from independently taking care of your body, you can also aim to prevent the effects of “male menopause” from building up by enlisting the help of a medical professional. If you feel like you’re at risk of experiencing erectile dysfunction, for instance, then we recommended that you schedule an appointment with Men’s Health Clinic experts today!
Conclusion
Although it may make sense at first, the concept of male menopause isn’t as scary as you may expect it to be once you look further into the details. If you feel like you’re going through such a process because of the effects of the so-called condition, it’s best not to fret since there are treatment options available to assist you.
If you feel like you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction “male menopause” and want to book a consultation with a clinic that specialises in men’s health, our doctors are trained to help with various sexual health concerns and provide high quality and customised treatment plans. Get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience!
