Fact or Fiction? Male Menopause

By Brandie Umar - Executive Director of Content | August 22nd, 2010

Contrary to belief, it is not only women who are affected by the mid-life health problems caused by menopause; male menopause affects over 5 million men worldwide and experts believe this is only 95% of the total number of cases.

Similar to the female menopause, male menopause is caused by hormonal changes with age. Symptoms of male menopause similarly reflect those of female menopause, including tiredness, mood swings, weight gain and hair loss.

Male menopause, medically known as male hypogonadism, is triggered when testosterone levels decrease. Female menopause begins as the ovaries start to shut down, typically around the mid-40's. For men, testosterone levels begin to decrease - by an estimated one percent a year - from the late 30's onwards. The lower the testosterone levels fall, the greater the impact of the hormal imbalance.

Male menopause is undiagnosed in as many as 95% of cases according to experts figures. Men who begin to experience fatigue, hormonal mood swings, a significant change appetite or sudden hair loss are advised to consult a doctor. Male menopause is diagnosed through a simple blood test and, as with female menopause, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can reverse the symptoms and rebalance the hormones. Doctors believe many men treat the symptoms of male menopause, seeking

hair transplant surgery for hair loss as an example, instead of looking for the cause. Once started on a course of HRT, most men notice a significant improvement in the affects of male menopause within 2-4 months. A blood test is used to diagnose male hypogonadism.