Male Menopause

Declining Sexual Stamina and Virility in Middle Aged Men

Until recently the idea of a male menopause (andropause) was controversial. Increasingly however, the medical profession is leaning towards accepting that the hormonal changes men experience in their middle years can trigger similar symptoms to female menopause.
Men's sexual health certainly changes with advancing age. Sexual urge declines, erections may require direct stimulation and take longer to build.
Just as women as they age produce less estrogen, older men produce less testosterone, the hormone responsible for sex drive. By age 80, most male hormone levels decrease to pre-puberty levels. And just as many women travel comfortably through mid life with a minimum of menopausal symptoms, not all men notice any hormonal change.
Approximately 40% of men between 40 and 60 will experience some degree of menopausal symptoms (lethargy, depression, mood swings, irritability, hot flushes, insomnia, Low Libido, and impotence)
And while many men feel they've lost their way for a while in their middle years, mid life crisis is not necessarily the same thing as male menopause (andropause).

Common Physical Symptoms of Male Menopause

• Fatigue and low energy – falling asleep after dinner
• Decrease in strength and/or endurance
• Deterioration in sports ability
• “Sore body syndrome” – joint stiffness
• Cold hands and feet
• Excessive sweating
• Feeling fat and gaining weight
• Lost height
  

Common Emotional Symptoms of Male Menopause

• Depression
• Irritability and anger – “grumpy old man syndrome”
• Reduced “enjoyment of life”
• Feeling lonely, unattractive and unloved
• Loss of purpose and direction 
• Feeling you've lost control and significance
• Difficulty in concentration and forgetfulness
  

Common Sexual Symptoms of Male Menopause

• Low Libido- Men may require direct stimulation to get an erection, sexual fantasies may no longer arouse
• Increased anxiety and fear of not performing satisfactorily
• Fantasies about sex and having a new and younger partner
• Experiences of Impotence - Erections may take longer to occur and may not last as long or be as firm
• Less urge to ejaculate and sometimes no orgasms at all
• Testicles shrink in size
  

What's the Difference Between Male Menopause and Mid Life Crisis?

Many men facing the second half of life do a stock take and don't like what they see. Years of commitment to work and family haven't brought the rewards or results anticipated. Handing over initiative and power to the younger men thundering up behind leaves you feeling displaced and discomforted. As you adjust to maturing goals and developing a vision for your later years, you ask “Is that all there is?”
A mid life crisis may be looming as you struggle to understand and accept contradictory emotions like relief at being able to relinquish work responsibilities, while also feeling grief at losing control and feeling surplus to requirements.
Along with the physical signs of aging comes a realization of age, retirement and eventually death.
You're facing big life changes and they can result in turbulence, emotional stress, and similar symptoms to male menopause, like depression or irritability. Your family accuses you of being a grumpy old man.
The Challenge of Mid Life is to make Adjustments and Find a New Balance

• serenity and risk takin
• personal freedom and intimacy 
• optimism tempered with realism
• retirement and creating more meaningful work and play
  

Male menopause is on the other hand a physiological state often accompanied by degenerative diseases associated with aging, diabetes, atherosclerosis, obesity, and arthritis.

Conditions which Contribute to Male Menopause

• thyroid conditions
• hormone deficiencies
• excessive alcohol consumption
• obesity
• smoking
• poor diet
• poor circulation
• lack of exercise
• depression
  

What Can I Do About Male Menopause?

• Eat a nutritious low fat high fibre diet
• Get plenty of sleep
• Exercise regularly
• Limit alcohol and coffee consumption
• Drink lots of water
• Sex is still important but regard it as just part of a relationship which also includes friendship, love intimacy and sharing
• Talk to a supportive friend 
• Find your stress personality type and learn to reduce your stress levels
  

According to the Canadian Institute of Stress there are five stress types including speed freak and worrywart. What stresses you depends on your type as does the remedy.

What are the Treatment Options for Male Menopause?

Testosterone replacement therapy is one option for men with male menopause. The treatment is still quite controversial because of the risks involved. Before commencing treatment your doctor should give a complete general check up including a rectal examination, liver function tests and PSA tests, and these checks should be repeated at 3 to 6 months intervals as long as the treatment is continued.
Testosterone replacement is available in many forms – oral, trans dermal and implants.
Unfortunately there is no evidence that administering testosterone to men with border line low testosterone levels will improve sexual functioning.
Risks of Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Testosterone injections while reducing andropause symptoms may:

• Increase stroke risk
• Cause liver toxicity 
• Cause heart disease – have serum cholesterol levels evaluated and rechecked periodically
• Cause prostate cancer - take a PSA test annually to detect early
  

Is there Natural support for Male Menopause?

Many researchers give an enthusiastic yes to this question.
A range of herbs and nutrients have been found to have beneficial results in supporting normal sex life for men who have the declining sexual stamina and other common symptoms of mid life.

If anyone tells you that a declining sex drive is something that you just have to put up with as you get older – they're wrong. Modern science and traditional medicine can join forces to show how popular natural sex boosters work. Many of the active ingredients in traditional herbs have been investigated to work out just what it is in the herb which gives the good results.

Thousands of men and women are discovering the benefits of natural sex boosters like tribulus terrestris, horny goat weed, maca, muira puama, and ginseng.

However do not expect these natural products to work as quickly as pharmaceuticals, Natural sex boosters work a little slower, and while they may take a few days to work, they often provide additional benefits such as boosting libido and enhancing sensations.

Amongst the herbs which boost libido and sexual pleasure over several days of use:
Ginseng extract – taken at a dose of 100 mg to 200 mg daily in the morning, should produce results within days.
Horny goat weed - suggested dose 1 or 2g daily, effects noticed on the third or fourth day of use
Maca – dose of 1 to 3g, taken daily in the morning, enhances libido within a week. You may also an increase in energy and a slight improvement in mood.
Muira puama – dose of 0.5g to 1.5g taken daily in the morning, produces a sex-boosting effect either on the first day, or within two to three days of use. Many users also report a sense of well-being.
Tribulus – 1 to 3g taken for several days. May work after first day of use, but often the effects more pronounced after second or third day.
Tongkat ali – Around 40 to 100 mg of 100:1 extract taken in the morning can benefit libido, more energy, longer erections and more sexual thoughts. Higher doses can lead to insomnia.
Kava – If you normally have a high libido and easily achieve erections but are very tense, kava can be of help. Take one capsule containing 70 to 100 mg of kavalactones about two to four hours before intimacy. You'll feel more relaxed and in a better mood.
Ashwagandha – if you suffer from anxiety along with reduced libido, this Ayurvedic herb helps you relax and also has the potential to slighting increase your sexual interest. A dose of 500 to 1000 mg is usually sufficient.
Dietary supplements containing some or all of these herbs are often beneficial for a lagging sex life. They can help in allowing you to enjoy a normal sex life and enhanced sexual pleasure.