Losing Your Manly Vigor: Is It A Sign Of Male Menopause?

Shedding light on one of the misunderstood medical conditions

Age does get in the way in terms of reproduction in women as well as in men. It is a well-known medical fact that women will most likely undergo menopause in their 50s. Around this age, a series of biological processes would make females lose their childbearing ability for good. While women are destined to lose their reproductive powers at a certain age, would the same predicament happen to men?

Credit: Flicker/Craig Pennington

The medical community is currently debating on whether men menopause in the same manner as women. Some say that it is just a myth because, unlike the case of women, men do not undergo a well-defined physiological process of reproductive decline. Others believe that despite an absence of clear, observable symptoms, aging would take its toll on men's capacity to impregnate, which is loosely termed as male menopause.

Manly pause?

Knowing that there is a debate on male menopause, the next question is which side should we take? Let us shed light on the very nature of what doctors call male menopause.

According to WebMD, a medical website, male menopause is triggered mainly by the gradual decrease in the production of testosterone -- the hormone responsible for reproduction in males. Reduction in testosterone levels happens as men age. According to a study, it falls about 30 percent on average after age 30. The diminished testosterone levels are attributed to cause men to experience symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, depression, and sexual problems.

However, many doctors admit that there is no clear relationship between the above symptoms and the decreased testosterone levels. In fact, other doctors believe these symptoms are caused by other medical disorders or diseases related to aging.

Barely a 'man' thing

Unlike in women wherein part of their physiology is the termination of their ovulation process as they pass their reproductive prime, men's capacity to impregnate never truly ceases -- it is only diminished. Their bodies continue to produce sperm even after the menopausal period of women. To emphasize, Ramajit Raghav, recorded as the world's oldest father, was reported to have fathered a son at the age of 96. 

If male menopause is not a given, meaning a natural ordeal for men, the next question is how common is it? A study, published by the New England Journal of Medicine, stated that male menopause is relatively rare. The paper reported that it only affects 2% of men over 40, while other figures show that merely 5% of all men; nearly 20% of them, after age 70, suffer from low testosterone.

So for men who are worried about their decreased performance in bed, chances are, based on statistics, it is most likely that you have other medical conditions that cause your diminished manly vigor. To be sure, consult a doctor for the correct diagnosis and treatment -- such as testosterone replacement therapy.