Most people are familiar with menopause, the decline in female hormones that eventually leads to the cessation of the menstrual period. Along the way, a host of symptoms commonly occurs, such as hot flashes, weight fluctuation, moods swings, decreased libido, and more. However, fewer people are aware that men over forty years of age may also experience a similar decline in male hormones and experience symptoms associated with andropause, or “male menopause.”
While the experience is not the same for everyone, since all men experience declining testosterone levels as part of the natural aging process, it is likely that most men will experience some kinds of symptoms due to andropause at some point in their lives. These can be mild or significantly impact daily life, but being aware of the onset and progression of the condition can greatly alleviate symptoms as well as disease risk caused by declining levels of testosterone.