Male menopause really does exist

A group of European researchers have concluded that male menopause truly does exist, although only in a small portion of the male population. Dr. Frederick Wu, the lead researcher on the team, helped discover that probably only about two percent of the male population suffers from male menopause. This contradicts the number of men that are currently receiving testosterone treatments, and Wu suggests that we may be over-medicating or giving unnecessary testosterone supplements to men that may not really need them.

A drop in testosterone levels characterizes male menopause, also known as late-onset hypogonadism. This usually occurs as men age, similar to menopause in women, although in contrast, a drop in estrogen affects all women as they age. Those men that have a drop in testosterone levels, as well as erectile dysfunction, reductions in sex drive, and a lack of morning erections are likely to receive a diagnosis of male menopause. There are also a few non-sexual symptoms that typically accompany the diagnosis, such as an inability to partake in certain physical activities, as well as low energy levels, feelings of sadness and extreme fatigue. It also appears there may be correlations between male menopause and other health issues such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes to name a few.

Wu is suggesting that men need to be properly evaluated and determine whether they have the other sexual and physical symptoms along with low testosterone levels before receiving a diagnosis of male menopause. By doing so, the number of men taking extra testosterone supplements could greatly decrease, as they may not really be needed for many.