Is the male menopause a myth or reality? Should you be worried? When men get into their 50s, some may experience a reduction in libido, erectile dysfunction, weight gain, fatigue, depression and other emotional symptoms which have some similarities to the female menopause.
But the female menopause is different. It marks the time when a woman's menstrual periods stop, and she is no longer able to become pregnant. Her levels of female hormones decline.
The male menopause is much less abrupt. The signs and symptoms emerge more gradually and subtly when there is a decrease in testosterone levels.
Doctors tend not to use the term male menopause; health care professionals may instead use the term andropause, testosterone deficiency, or late-onset hypogonadism.
Hypogonadism refers to a deficiency in male hormones, where levels are too low even for an ageing man. The meaning of late-onset hypogonadism is more similar to what lay people and the media refer to when discussing "male menopause".
"Thomas" (not his real name) is about to turn 60. He is a healthy man with a relatively youthful appearance and a good physique, who suddenly discovered that his muscles were beginning to shrink.