The "male menopause" (sometimes called the andropause) is an unhelpful term sometimes used in the media. This label is misleading because it suggests the symptoms are the result of a sudden drop in testosterone in middle age, similar to what occurs in the female menopause.
Male menopause is a condition that affects older men. It carries a set of symptoms that are linked to declining testosterone levels and aging. It is also referred to as andropause, androgen decline in the aging male, late onset hypogonadism and low testosterone. “Not every man will experience this.
Male menopause is a period of gradual adjustment when the body adjusts to low levels of testosterone. According to some sources, the discomfort of menopause may last 15 to 20 years.
Menopause leads to infertility — andropause doesn't
As a woman's reproductive hormones reduce to the point where ovulation and menstruation stops, the end result of menopause is that the woman becomes infertile and can no longer have any children.
That's right—men have hot flashes, too.
You may get them frequently, or just occasionally. You might feel like you're “burning up”, or you might break out in a cold sweat. Some men wake up hot and sweaty at night. These hot flashes that happen at night are called “night sweats”, and they can cause sleep deprivation.
The Cause: Andropause Hot Flashes
While it is true that hot flashes are more common in women, hot flashes in men are not unusual. Male hot flashes are caused by a severe testosterone deficiency that can occur in andropause (male menopause) and in androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.
Hot flashes feel the same to men and women: A sudden feeling of warmth or flushing that is most intense over the head and trunk, often accompanied by visible redness of the skin and by sweating, which can be profuse. Hot flashes are most common at night.
Replacing testosterone in the blood is the most common treatment for men going through andropause, but the risks and benefits of doing this should be considered before starting therapy. This treatment may provide relief from the symptoms and help improve the quality of life in many cases.
What are the symptoms of low testosterone, and how to increase it. Low testosterone levels in males can lead to erectile dysfunction. They can also affect sleep, mood, the size of the testicles, and more. In both males and females, low testosterone can lead to lower bone mass and reduced sex drive.
Key nutrients that promote healthy testosterone levels are vitamin D and zinc. You'll also want to boost your intake of branch chain amino acids (BCAAs) which consist of leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Some foods you may want to include in your diet: Salmon (vitamin D)
The medical community is debating whether or not men really do go through a well-defined menopause as their testosterone levels decline. Doctors say that men receiving hormone therapy with testosterone have reported relief of some of the symptoms associated with so-called male menopause.
Having a blood test is often among the first steps in diagnosing low testosterone. If results show a low testosterone level, an additional test may be completed to confirm results. The acceptable range of testosterone levels is generally between 250-1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) for total testosterone.
The short answer is there isn't a proven link between orgasms and testosterone levels, so we don't know how it affects you in the short term. However, you can take comfort in knowing that masturbating will not negatively affect your testosterone levels—or other aspects of your life—long-term.
Treating normal aging with testosterone therapy is not advisable. If you don't have a medical condition that's contributing to your decline in testosterone levels, your doctor might suggest natural ways to boost testosterone, such as losing weight and increasing muscle mass through resistance exercise.
While testosterone definitely plays a role in your sexual function, many men with low levels of testosterone (also referred to as low-T or hypogonadism) can get erections just fine.
Although all men experience a slow and steady decline in testosterone starting at around age 30, it is usually a sharp decline in testosterone that causes hot flashes.
If you're hot and sweaty and you straight-up cannot stand the heat, you may have an overactive thyroid, a.k.a. hyperthyroidism. “One of the most common symptoms of hyperthyroidism is heat intolerance,” says Jonathan Arend, M.D., an internist at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
Some women experience an "aura," an uneasy feeling just before the hot flash, that lets them know what's coming. The flash is followed by a flush, leaving you reddened and perspiring. You can have a soaker or merely a moist upper lip. A chill can lead off the episode or be the finale.
Many of us associate hot flashes with women going through menopause, but hot flashes in men are possible, too. They are most common in men with prostate cancer who are undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) (NCI, 2021). Hot flashes in men can be mild, moderate, or severe, with varying impacts on quality of life.
Hot flushes can last between 2 to 30 minutes. You may have a few a month or more often. The flushes usually last for a few months but for some people they carry on for longer.