I’m going to get the ball rolling on this one very quickly by saying there is no such thing as male menopause. But we girls will let our men have an Andropause … there’ll be no drama on this.
Stop for a second and think about the word itself:
Menos: from the Greek meaning month
Pause: from the Greek meaning stop/cease
So will someone please explain to me why august bodies such as the NHS and Harvard are now talking about male menopause?!
Could it be because most of the people in charge, or those in the know are masculine gender? Surely not.
Is Andropause the same as menopause?
Yes.
Men have had to live without a pause of any description. They’ve suffered this fate for so long they obviously need two words for what women have been dealing with for millennia, using only one word. It’s a little like Man Flu. There isn’t a woman alive who hasn’t experienced Man Flu.
In truth, the symptoms are, in a way, similar to those in menopause including, would you believe, hot flushes or flashes (rare). Taking care of the symptoms; skin care and extra deodorants should be de rigeur … for the suffering man.
Again, if we look at the meaning of the word:
Andras: from the Greek meaning human male
Pause: from the Greek meaning stop/cease
Male menopause is just one easy way to describe it.
Male menopause or Andropause Symptoms
A rose by any other name …
It’s sometimes called male menopause because it can produce many of the symptoms found in women’s menopause.
Symptoms include:
□ irritability
□ weight gain
□ low sex drive
□ impotence
□ problems sleeping
□ depression
□ fatigue
□ loss of strength.
□ maybe even hot flashes/flushes. Testosterone levels decline in men as they age and after 40, they decline by about 1 percent every year.
The decline in Testosterone, and it’s symptoms, are gradual compared to the hormonal changes experienced by women in menopause.
Andropause may last for as long as 15 to 20 years. The men who choose to take the Younger than Springtime route will spend that time trying to pretend they’re still 18. You’ve seen it … fast cars, comb-overs, looking at girls a third their age … it’s a long list.
Unlike menopause in most or some women, signs can be vague and, depending on each individual, can vary. One man’s flush isn’t another man’s Lamborghini.
Men may notice decreased muscle mass and loss of muscle strength. They may develop a paunch that forces them to decide whether to wear their belt over or under the gut.
Best not forget man-boobs and baldness …
It’s possible that some men will experience a decline in work performance. They stop washing the car and mowing the lawn. Walking the dog to the Pub is fine!
Of course, men find it difficult to acknowledge the problem and refuse to talk about it …they especially don’t want to recognise the symptoms. Are we suprised?
BUT, there are plenty of Testosterone-boosting-products around if someone feels it necessary, ranging from Green drinks to Vegan capsules to books about diet and weight loss/health pills …
