Some men develop depression,loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction and other physical and emotional symptomswhen they reach their late 40s to early 50s.

Other symptoms common in men this ageare:

These symptoms can interfere with everyday life and happiness, so it's important tofind the underlying cause and work out what can be done to resolve it.

The "male menopause" (sometimes called the "andropause") is an unhelpful term sometimes used in the media to explain the above symptoms.

This label ismisleading because it suggests the symptoms are the result of a suddendrop in testosterone in middle age, similar to what occurs in the female menopause. This isn't true. Although testosterone levels fall as men age, the decline is steadyless than 2% a year from around the age of 30-40and this is unlikely to cause any problems in itself.

A testosterone deficiency that develops later in life (also known as late-onset hypogonadism) can sometimesbe responsible for these symptoms, but in many cases the symptoms are nothing to do withhormones.

Lifestyle factors or psychological problems are often responsible for many of the symptoms described above.

For example,erectile dysfunction,loss of libidoandmood swingsmay bethe result of either:

There are alsophysical causes of erectile dysfunction, such as changes in the blood vessels, which may happen alongside any psychological cause.

Read about the causes of erectile dysfunction.

Psychological problems are typically brought on by workor relationship issues, divorce,money problems or worrying about ageing parents.

A "midlife crisis" can also be responsible. Thiscan happen when men think they've reached life's halfway stage. Anxieties over what they've accomplished so far, either in their job or personal life, can lead to a period of depression.

Read more about the male midlife crisis.

Other possible causes of the above symptoms include:

In some cases, where lifestyle or psychological problems don't seem to be responsible, the symptoms of the "male menopause" may bethe result ofhypogonadism, wherethe testes produce few or no hormones.

Hypogonadism issometimes present from birth,which can cause symptoms like delayed puberty and small testes.

Hypogonadism can also occasionallydevelop later in life, particularly in men who are obese or have type 2 diabetes. This is known aslate-onset hypogonadism and it can cause the "male menopause" symptoms mentioned above. However, this is an uncommon and specific medical condition that isn't a normal part of ageing.

A diagnosis oflate-onset hypogonadism can usually be made based on your symptoms and the results of blood testsused tomeasure your testosterone levels.

If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, see your GP. They'll ask about your work and personal life, to see if your symptoms may be caused by a mental health issue, such as stress or anxiety.

If stress or anxiety are affecting you, you may benefit from medication or a talking therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Exercise and relaxation can also help.Read about:

Your GP may also order ablood test to measure your testosterone levels. If the results suggest you have a testosterone deficiency, you may be referred to an endocrinologist (a specialist in hormone problems).

If the specialist confirms this diagnosis,youmay be offered testosterone replacementto correct the hormone deficiency, which should relieve your symptoms. This treatment may be either:

Page last reviewed: 08/04/2016

Next review due: 08/04/2018

Excerpt from:
Male menopause - NHS Choices