Is there such a thing as a male menopause? Women, of course, go through very specific physical changes in their mid life as ovulation stops and hormone levels drop. Within a few short years women are unable to have children any more. But as none of these features apply to men how can middle age in men be associated with menopause.
In the physiological sense male hormone levels remain fairly stable as they age and most men can still father children well into their seventies. Eventually there is a decline in male hormone levels and serum testosterone concentrations fall to about 75% by the time men reach the age of 80.Free testosterone levels drop to about 50 percent of what they were at age 20. So the menopause in men, if it does exist, certainly doesn't appear to be related to hormonal levels.
Most informed opinion is of the view that the male menopause is a term used to describe mid-life dissatisfaction and difficulties. For some men these issues become all consuming, hence the term midlife crisis. It is not uncommon for men in their 40s or 50s to experience problems with anxiety and depression. Other common problems involve decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, feelings of fatigue and even flushes and sweats. As men age they begin a gradual decrease in bone and muscle mass and are prone to increasing weight and risk of cardiovascular disease.
The psychological difficulties of mid life males are often complex. It is a time when the realities of life often lead to disillusion about the future. Men may become irritable and feel undervalued. They may complain of feeling trapped by their responsibilities and unhappy with life circumstances which seem to reinforce their sense of isolation and inertia.
The male menopause therefore is a term mostly used to describe, amongst other things, unfulfilled desires and expectations, work dissatisfaction, the loss of passion in personal relationships and the loss of a positive body image as the ravages of time become increasingly obvious. Male identity takes something of a battering as it becomes clear the mid life male that promotion prospects at work have ground to a halt. Physical abilities change and the future is more unclear in terms of what direction to take or goals to set.
If we think of these transitions as a form of menopause then like the female menopause the good news is that it is a transient state. Men can help themselves by remaining active, eating well, and if necessary, seeking practical and emotional support from a qualified therapist.
