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Male menopause

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drone on:
I turned 44 a few months ago, and I've noticed some things going on with my body that I'm starting to realize may be a form of "male menopause."  I guess this is a controversial subject as some believe it's B.S. but some doctors are backing it up with research.   Anyway, my symptoms are low testosterone (I had symptoms of it such as low libido and worsening depression, tiredness, irritability, etc. and got it tested.  It was below 300, where "normal" range is 300-1200 I believe), and recently, a noticeable loss of height (I used to wear size 32 length pants, now I have to buy size 30).  I got to the point recently where I finally "woke up" out of my and realized I better start doing something about my health before it's too late.  I'm about 50 lbs overweight with a big gut which I got from excess sugar consumption and carb consumption, no exercise, skipping meals, overeating at times, and smoking about a pack a day.  So I quit smoking a week ago and have changed my eating, exercise, and sleep habits.  It's been hard but I can already feel the benefits.   

I was wondering if anyone is/has gone through this and whether "male menopause" is reversible through making lifestyle changes? There is a testosterone replacement therapy but apparently the side effects can include fertility problems, heart disease, increased risk of prostate cancer, among others.  The endocrinologist I saw was not willing to do the therapy and talked me out of it.  Any opinions on this greatly appreciated.  :) 

SunDummy:
46 here, and man, do I feel your pain.  I get into a serious funk if I don't exercise regularly.  Eating well and getting sleep helps somewhat, but I really notice the difference when I push my body hard, like 50-mile+ bike rides.  I'm not a fan of taking hormones (or any drugs for that matter); so many problems can be solved by using your body the way it's meant to be used:  active as hell.  If there are still problems, then I'd look at supplements, but only after I've tried a healthy diet and physical exertion. 

Cutting out (or at least lessening) alcohol helps a great deal too.

mgriffin:
I was about to type almost exactly what SunDummy just wrote. Mainly, I think it's a matter of lifestyle rather than a thing that happens to all men, unlike menopause which happens to all women regardless of health or lifestyle. I see it as a metabolic and hormonal syndrome that affects men who are sedentary and overweight, rather than a function of age.

Among my friends, acquaintances and co-workers, some remain "themselves" as they transition from 30s to 40s and even beyond. Others become lethargic, and seem to lose confidence and motivation. This tends to lead to a downward spiral (even if it's a subtle, gradual one) of decreased physical activity, more time spent in front of the TV, more alcohol consumption. Other effects which are a bit harder to determine for sure seem to me a lessening in libido (so many of these guys remark their wives don't want sex any more but they, the guys, don't really mind) and settling into a routine without any new plans or projects or undertakings of they kind they would have done frequently when younger.

You could say they've lost their "mojo" but I think more likely they're feeling tired, lethargic and unenthused because their energy level is lower and every activity seems more difficult. Though I obviously haven't measured the testosterone levels in any of the people I've observed suffering from this problem, I think the diminished libido compared to other men their age indicates this may be involved.

As SunDummy suggests, I think eating and sleeping better are important, but consistent, vigorous exercise is the biggest thing. Cut your body fat down near 20% and compare the way feel to how you felt before. I bet you won't feel the need for hormone therapy any more, at least if the body composition change comes from exercise and not merely from starvation.

Lena reads a lot about exercise, nutrition and endocrine/hormone issues, so maybe she'll weigh in, even though she's, you know, a girl and everything!

mgriffin:
Oh, and... I turn 47 in about 3 weeks so I'm fighting similar battles.

One thing I've noticed that has changed from when I was younger is that if I exercise consistently, everything's great - my energy level goes up, better mental clarity and mood, and so on. But if I slack off for a while, let my fitness drop off, then try to overdo it in order to "catch up" in a hurry, I crash and it takes me two days to recover.

It's better to exercise almost every day, easy at first and then gradually ramping up so it's always challenging, all the while making sure you get enough recovery and sleep, and don't eat or especially drink so much you un-do all the gains you made.

hdibrell:
I couldn't agree more with Mike and SunDummy's replies. I turned 61 last weekend and I have experienced many of the same symptoms for the same reasons. I'm not overweight ( 6' and 178 lbs.) but I do have a bit of a beer belly now. I do notice that when I start eating poorly and drop off on regular exercise I feel sluggish and constantly tired. I try to eat well, but getting home late (around 8 p.m.) makes it difficult to eat well and it is so easy to just pick up food on the way home. I don't have a strenuous exercise routine, but I try to walk daily. When I start eating poorly I notice that I am less likely to exercise. The combination is not good for me. I don't watch much television, but I do sit outside and watch life in my backyard and field behind me (about the same but more entertaining). In other words, I agree. Eat better, exercise some and sleep better.

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