Men go through a change very much like women in their middle years.  Just like women, men also experience complex hormonal rhythms that affect their sexuality, mood, and temperament. But some men don’t experience much of a crisis; they just continue living through the first part of their life and into the second. Others go through a period of great turbulence, but then are redeemed and find a new course and approach for the second passage of their lives.

And, of course, every person is different.  And not all men going through menopause will experience it in exactly the same way. The passage into middle age is a complicated.  It has many personal, social, economic and family implications.  It may therefore be difficult to differentiate these changes from the symptoms of other conditions that can create some of the same symptoms.

About Male Menopause

Male Menopause (also called andropause or viropause) begins with hormonal, physiological and chemical changes that occur in all men generally between the ages of forty and fifty-five, though it can occur as early as thirty-five or at late as sixty-five.

These changes affect all aspects of a man’s life. Male menopause is thus a psychological, interpersonal, social and spiritual dimension. Men have reported having as many premenstrual type symptoms as women do (reduced or increased energy, irritability, and other negative moods, back pain, sleeplessness, headaches, confusion, etc.).

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes greatly affect men going through male menopause.  Lowered levels of hormones at mid-life are central to the changes associated with male menopause.

Recent research indicates that lowered levels of the following hormones may decrease sex drive, increase depression and weight gain, and contribute to a general decrease in well being and health:

• Dopamine
• Oxytocin
• Vasopressin
• Growth hormone
• Melatonin
• DHEA
• Pregnenolone
• Thyroid hormone
• Testosterone

Men, like women, experience complex hormonal rhythms that affect their sexuality, mood, and temperament. Studies show  five different testosterone cycles in men:

• Rhythmic fluctuations three to four time an hour.
• Daily changes with testosterone higher in the morning and lower in the afternoon.
• Monthly fluctuations that are rhythmic, but different for each man.
• Fluctuations of testosterone levels throughout the year with levels higher in October and lower in April.
• Decreasing levels of testosterone associated with male menopause that occurs as men get older.

Men have physical and emotional reactions to hormonal fluctuations throughout the month, similar to PMS in women.  We offer three mineral supplements that help with balancing hormones:

1. Legendary Liquid Trace Minerals - This plant based mineral complex provides the minerals and elements your body needs for healthy cellular function and hormone production.  See our news article on Popp’s Test.
2. Chelated Mineral RDA’s- This mineral complex provides the recommended daily allowance of several minerals that are important to hormone production and regulation.  Click here to learn more.
3. Catalyzed Liquid Chromium - It is well known that chromium is involved in the production and regulation of hormones.  This supplement is also very helpful if you are trying to lose weight.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 28th, 2008 at 3:59 pm and is filed under Men's Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.