Male Midlife Crisis or Andropause?

Andropause (also known as "male menopause"), caused by a decline in hormones in men, is sometimes confused as a midlife crisis. Andropause symptoms can include:

Decreased mental quickness and sharpness
Decreased energy, strength and endurance
Less desire for activity and exercise
Decreased muscle and increased body fat
Mild to moderate depression and irritability
Depression and/or loss of eagerness and enthusiasm for daily life
Decreased sex drive
Decreased sexual function and/or sensitivity

Note that Andropause often escapes diagnosis because symptoms can be vague and can vary greatly among individuals. The very slow onset of symptoms, over many years, can appear to just be normal aging. Also, since all this happens during the midlife year's when many men begin to question their values, accomplishments and direction in life, it's often difficult to realize that the changes occurring are related to more than just external conditions.

Some theorize that the gains in human longevity are the cause. Our life expectancy has gained but our ability to maintain proper hormone balance in later years has not.

There are hormone replacement therapies for more serve cases. Through medical intervention testosterone, thyroid, DHEA and growth hormone can all be brought up to "younger" levels. As with all medical therapies this requires a discussion with one's primary physician as is not without its risks.

Maintaining a generally healthy lifestyle can also lessen andropausal symptoms, such as eating a healthy diet and regular exercise. In particular, certain foods can impair hormone balance including harmful fats, such as those found in margarine and refined vegetable oils, packaged foods containing hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats, and refined sugar. Of course these are foods that should be avoided anyway.

In short, be smart, be healthy and talk to your physician. What you are feeling may not be "normal" or untreatable.

andropause