Men experience real and sometimes debilitating physical and mental midlife symptoms, although they may not always report these to their healthcare provider immediately. These symptoms overlap with andropause symptoms and male menopause symptoms and often interfere with day-to-day life. They can impact not just the men experiencing them, but also their friends, family and co-workers.
The most common symptoms include:
- depression - loss of sex drive - erectile dysfunction - mood swings and irritability - anger - loss of muscle mass and reduced ability to exercise - fat redistribution, such as developing a large -belly or “man boobs” (gynecomastia) - a general lack of enthusiasm or energy - difficulty sleeping an/or or increased tiredness - night sweats - hot flashes - poor concentration and short-term memory challenges
Causes of Male Mid-Life Symptoms.
It can be difficult to pin down the exact reasons for men’s mid-life symptoms. Low testosterone is often blamed, but it is rarely the primary cause unless there is a clear illness or injury to explain lowered hormone levels. Given this, it is important to recognize that lifestyle choices can be a factor, as well as psychological issues. For example, erectile dysfunction can result from stress, depression, and/or anxiety, but it is also associated with obesity, smoking, excessive drinking, and cardiovascular health problems.
Common causes of male menopause symptoms include:
- stress - anxiety - lack of sleep - a poor diet - lack of exercise - drinking too much alcohol - smoking - low self-esteem
Night sweats in men can be caused by low testosterone, but more commonly results from anxiety and/or stress, diet, alcohol, medications, or a side effect of sleep apnea. This is true of hot flashes during the day in men as well, where the most common causes are anxiety, stress, or side effects of medication.
