Male Menopause
Male Menopause is the result
of lowered levels of testosterone, the male hormone. Men suffering from
reduced testosterone levels are usually men who have been suffering from hidden
medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. Men
affected by these diseases are usually over the age of 45.
Most men do experience a
reduction of levels in testosterone which entirely normal. Rapid decreases of
testosterone occur more in men at any age, who have had damage to the testes,
where male testosterone is made. This can happen through injury, chemotherapy,
radiation, infection and surgery.
Parts of the brain, called
hypothalamus and the pituitary gland mediate the production of testosterone.
If one or both are not working as they should or are damaged, at any age,
signals are not sent to the testes, required for normal testosterone
production. This will result in lowered levels of testosterone.
Men tend to experience
similar symptoms, which women feel when going through menopause, when their
levels of testosterone drop. They can experience fatigue, depression, muscle
weakness, decreased sex drive as well as erectile dysfunction. Osteoporosis in
men has also been associated with testosterone deficiency.
Hormone replacement therapy
is one treatment for significantly low testosterone levels. Most men, however,
as they get older, do not require any treatment, because their reduction in
testosterone is so gradual.
It is also found that men
have a high risk of prostate cancer when using hormone replacement therapy.
Treatment administered through injections, patches, oral medications or
implants is the best ways to receive hormone therapy. Some doctors may even
prescribe anti-depressants.
Quite often you might have to
have a change of lifestyle because obesity is one of the symptoms of low
testosterone levels. It is recommended that regular exercise and a healthy
diet be added to your daily routine.
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