Manopause

Though sleepiness, muscle loss and reduced interest in sex are symptoms women experience during menopause, these changes can happen to men as they age, too. Your healthcare provider might call it andropause, but many people call this condition "manopause"—a term coined in a 2014 Time article.

No matter what it's referred to as, it describes an age-related decline in the hormone testosterone, potentially resulting in symptoms that affect quality of life.

According to several studies, testosterone decreases 1% to 1.6% per year between ages 30 and 40. The Urology Care Foundation and Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging report low testosterone in:

• 40% of men over 45
• 20% of men over 60
• 30% of men over 70
• 50% of men over 80

Since it's checked infrequently and can be asymptomatic, some men might not even know they have a testosterone problem. Instead, it could present as other complications, such as:

• depression
• dry, thinning skin
• erectile dysfunction
• excessive sweating
• fatigue
• hot flashes
• increased fat around the chest and abdomen
• loss of muscle and bone mass
• lower sex drive
• reduced concentration
• sleep problems

Ask your doctor if your testosterone levels should be checked through blood work or urinalysis. Most experts agree that a testosterone level less than 300 nanograms per deciliter is low in men. Still, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed men don't have to reach that benchmark to experience symptoms of andropause.

Since it's a hormonal condition, possible treatments include topical, injected or oral testosterone replacement therapy. However, your healthcare provider also might suggest changes in your exercise regimen, diet or mental health treatment.

You don't have to accept symptoms of andropause as just another part of getting older. Speak with your doctor about what you can do to rediscover all you've been missing.

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