All mammals, the category human beings belong to, are bestowed with the ability to reproduce. They achieve the “power” to reproduce their replicas at a certain threshold age. The reproductive ability is triggered at adolescence and gets accentuated in adulthood. In humans, it is balanced by controlling the secretion of hormones, namely testosterone and estrogen. Men and women have virility and fertility respectively, due to the presence of the correct balance of these hormones in the human body. In case of men, the hormone, known as testosterone is responsible for virility. Menopause, as the word means is the end of a woman’s menstrual period.
What is male menopause?
Male menopause is similar loss of ability to “father” a child. Male hormones are related to muscle power, bone mass, fat distribution and in general the potency. These male hormones, chiefly testosterone, when depleted due to reduced production, cause menopause. Male menopause is relatively slower process compared to women. Men also tend to go through mental and emotional upheavals during this period. There are ways and means to deal with menopausal effects.
Men should first check the symptoms of menopause. At the physiological level, general fatigue and weakness, disturbed night’s sleep and hot flashes may be experienced. A marked decline in libido (sexual desire) is seen. In some cases this may result in depression and sexual dysfunction. It is imperative to visit a doctor, who would determine the extent of problem by physical examination, blood test, testosterone tests, etc. Men need to deal with new situations by weighing various options available to them. There is a lot of debate about the man’s behavior related to menopause, but it has been agreed that even men go through a physical and emotional change similar to women
- Those men, desirous of “regaining” their potency have the option of Hormone Replacement Therapy and researchers have seen results like relieving depression, fatigue and generate interest again in sexual life. Every artificial therapy has its own risks and side effects. The same is applicable for the Testosterone Replacement Therapy. The treatment should be evaluated and discussed, before embarking on this exercise.
- Men in the age group of 50+ sometimes reluctantly accept the inevitability about their reduced sexual prowess. However, they need to adjust their lifestyle to avoid upheavals in their moods. They can approach counselors and discuss openly their doubts. They can later also share the situation with close friends to find various ways to deal with the present and the future. It is always better to have a dialog with trustworthy friends and also with female partners.
- Yoga is an alternative therapy, generally suitable for most stress related chronic disorders. Low levels of testosterone tend to cause stress in men. In such cases, yoga therapy is a useful tool. Doctors have claimed that the fine tuned Yoga practice can certainly reduce stress levels and balance men’s testosterone.
Men should also have a positive approach to life and understand that menopause is a stage of aging of human being. There are many people who, gracefully accept the menopausal situations and deal with life with renewed interest.
