Male 'menopause' a reality, says doctor

KANPUR: Is male menopause a reality or a myth? The question might perplex you. Similar to women, men undergo natural cessation in the sexual function. `Andropause', the term coined for the menopause-like condition in the aging men relates to the reduction in the production of male hormones known as testosterone.
On the second day of the 36th annual conference of association of surgeons of India (UP chapter-UPASICON-2010) at Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial (GSVM) Medical College here on Friday, Dr Vinod Jain highlighted the term `andropause'.Presently, the associate professor of surgery, Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow, Dr Jain said `andropause' is a reality and can also be treated.
"In women, menopause starts after the age of 45, in men the andropause arise after the age of 40. Generally in men within the age group of 40 to 70 years, the testosterone level declines by about 1.6 per cent each year. Testosterone plays a key role in the development of male reproductive organs like testis and prostate as well as promoting secondary sexual characteristics such as increased muscle, bone mass and hair growth," said Vinod.
There are no clear signals of andropause in men as menopause or cessation of menstruation in women. "Sperms released by an andropause male can easily fertilise the eggs released by the women. Since the changes in men are very slow it is very difficult to diagnose it. The dominant symptoms of andropause are loss of libido and erectile dysfunction in nearly 46 per cent men, fatigue and memory loss in 41 per cent and 36 per cent respectively," he added.
The word `andropause' appeared in the medical literature in 1952 and is defined as the `natural cessation of the sexual function in older men'. There are many other terms to it like viropause, male climacteric, androgen deficiency in ageing male (ADAM) and partial androgen deficiency in ageing male (PADAM).
A study is required to clinically analyse the symptoms of andropause. Dr Jain mentioned that in laboratory tests, total testosterone level in the seminal fluid is calculated. If the levels are below the normal range then the patients can be treated by testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), oral androgen, injectable androgen and implantation of crystalline pellets of testopel.
He said that `andropause' is reality and not a myth. "I believe that andropause should be included in the medical curriculum and andropause clinics should be set up in major hospitals of the country," Dr Jain added.