Male menopause is not like women’s change of life or menopause, but they are both related to entering the senior years of life. Both types have to do with changes in hormones. For men, it’s about a drop in testosterone-it’s not as noticeable for men because the drop is gradual, where in women it’s abrupt.
Some changes in men that may be related to reduced testosterone are:
- Decreased energy
- Decreased sexual interest
- A weakened immune system
- Change in body shape/composition
- Decreased ability to think clearly
This has to do with the balance of hormones, called the endocrine system, which changes as we get older. There are doctors who specialize in testing the hormone levels, and if below normal, providing treatment in the form of testosterone, usually injected, to bring the level back to normal range. However, a large swath of the medical mainstream thinks testosterone therapy may increase risk of prostate cancer.
The proponents of this process, called Cenegenics, particularly a doctor who tested this on himself, believe the medical mainstream is behind the 8 ball, and will all embrace this practice in 20 or 30 years. There haven’t been any large studies done testing safety and effectiveness, because doctors largely fear it’s too dangerous-even for men willing to be in such a study. However, men wishing to receive treatment can do so-at a price of up to $12,000 a year.
Doctors of the old guard advise a not-so-pricey method for slowing down aging: avoid overeating, eat healthy foods, exercise and get lots of rest.
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