Men get menopause too, suffer from hot flashes, low libido, fatigue and more

If you ever think that guys have it easier, here’s some news that may comfort you: Guys may get hot flashes, too.

Some men experience a decrease in hormones when they hit middle age, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine that was reported in the Daily Mail. And reduced levels of testosterone can cause everything from lowered libido to fatigue, just like menopause does.

Still, male menopause is an uncommon condition that affects only a small minority: 3% of men actually experience physical symptoms from less testosterone, according to the study, and lower testosterone levels are a natural part of aging.

Older men generally have lower hormone levels than younger ones, with testosterone levels decreasing about 1% a year after age 30, according to the Mayo Clinic. By a man’s 70th birthday, the levels may be as much as 50% lower. Other medical conditions, like obstructive sleep apnea, also can cause testosterone levels to decline.

Medical experts say men should get a physical to see if they need testosterone-replacement therapy.

Men may feel depressed for other reasons as well. They frequently decline physically more dramatically OR RAPIDLY???? than women and may experience a sense of growing mortality. Men tend to die several years earlier than women.

While male menopause is uncommon, guys also are prone to a kind of psychological menopause at middle age when, as the Daily Mail reports, they come to realize they’re actually more like bumbling Clark Kent than Superman. And that realization’s sobering enough to put anyone in a bad mood.

www.nydailynews.com