What About My Libido, Doc?

Is male menopause different from menopause in women?

The term "male menopause" is not strictly correct.
Menopause in women means the pausing or cessation of menses (menstruation). Women undergo this "change in life" between the ages of 45 and 55. It is a fairly abrupt change and is highly noticeable by the individual. Symptoms include mood changes, episodes of facial flushing and sweating, changes in libido and drying of the vagina. It occurs as a direct result of the ovaries no longer producing oestrogen.
Men obviously don"t menstruate and therefore cannot "pause their menses". Using this term is therefore inaccurate. It is quite likely that it will be replaced with terms such as "andropause" (a pause in the production of androgens, or male hormones) or "the male climacteric" (change of life). In fact, men have gradually decreasing levels of testosterone for most of their life. This level will most likely peak around puberty in boys and be maintained for most of their teenage years. As you grow older, the level of testosterone will decrease by one per cent per year. The symptoms of male menopause will eventually begin, depending on the minimum level your body needs to remain asymptomatic.
This may occur at any time from age 30 onwards. Most men will seek help for these symptoms in their mid to late 40s as it is at around this age that the condition usually becomes noticeable. Unfortunately, if the symptoms occur past the age of 50, most men will see them as the normal process of ageing and probably ignore them. The other difference between women and men in dealing with this condition, is that women are more likely to consult their doctor about their symptoms, while men traditionally ignore it. They will turn to a friend or medical adviser only when desperate.
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