Do men go through menopause? I thought before that menopause only happens to women because of the evident loss of the female hormones called estrogen. Studies , however, have proven that men do, indeed, go through a phase similar to menopause in women. Doctors call this the male climacterium or andropause. There are, however, differences between male andropause and menopause in women.
Dr. Annebelle Aherrera, a Filipina medical doctor and author of several articles on women's health, cites the differences between the menopause in women and climacterium in men. In women, she said, menopause starts around the age of 51 when your ovaries have stopped functioning as a result of estrogen loss. The loss of estrogen in menopause results in common complaints that aging women have to live with such as hot flushes, night sweats, depression, and vaginal dryness.
The male climacterium, on the other hand, begins at 40 and accelerates at the age of 50 and above. It is characterized by a decline in levels of testosterone, the male hormone. Thus, you see men who also experience irritability, loss of interest in sex, impotence, weight gain, and loss of muscle mass.
While all women will go through menopause, the good news is that one-third of men will experienced climacterium. Those men suffering from andropause can be helped though. The lady doctor emphasized that it is important for men and women to realize that self-fulfilling activities are equally important in improving one's quality of life and well-being. It is at this phase that husbands and wives have more time to engage in social and civic activities in the community, or getting into a hobby or sport, or simply travelling together and exploring new sights and places. These are just some of the many choices that make mid-life an enriching experience.
Published by Teresita C. Tayanes on October 11, 2006 01:55 AM
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