Much less well known than menopause, andropause is linked to the drop in testosterone production in men. For now, it is not recognized by the scientific community, but real symptoms exist.
It would be tempting to speak of “male menopause” to qualify andropause, however, the symptoms and consequences of these two disorders are not the same. For many in the scientific community, andropause does not exist.
Real symptoms
Andropause is a gradual decrease in testosterone production in humans. The main symptoms are decreased desire, erection problems, general fatigue, sometimes accompanied by weight gain, insomnia and hot flashes.
Effective testosterone supplementation
As with menopause, some of the symptoms can be remedied with hormone therapy. A 2016 study shows that testosterone supplementation can partially resolve sexual disorders by improving libido, erectile function and therefore sexual activity. In some patients, treatment has also reduced mood disturbances. But the long term consequences of this treatment are not certain, it could increase the risk of blood clot or coronary heart disease.
Disagreements between scientists
Literally, andro means man and pause comes from pause for termination. This definition poses a problem for scientists because andropause does not correspond to an interruption of male fertility: men, unlike postmenopausal women, will be fertile until the end of their life. Menopause is usually more abrupt than the symptoms experienced by men, and it affects all women. This is not the case with andropause, which some men will never experience.
Few men concerned
In 2010, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study on the subject. Carried out by researchers at the University of Manchester and Imperial College London, it draws on data from 3,369 participants aged 40 to 79. The three most important sexual symptoms of andropause are, according to their findings, a decrease in the frequency of morning erections, an increase in erectile dysfunction and a decrease in sexual desire.
There are also physical symptoms (difficulty performing certain activities) and psychological symptoms (loss of energy, sadness, etc.). Not all of these symptoms are associated with a decrease in testosterone production, which is why researchers believe the diagnosis can only be made if all three sexual symptoms are associated with a total testosterone level below 11 nanomoles per liter and a level of free testosterone below 220 picomoles per liter. According to their results, only 2.1% of men would be affected and mainly aged 60 to 80 years.
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