Male Menopause: Fact or Fiction? Essay -- Biology Essays Research Pape

Male Menopause: Fact or Fiction? "Male menopause is a lot more fun than female menopause. With female menopause you gain weight and get hot flashes. Male menopause - you get to date young girls and drive motorcycles." (11) While 'male menopause' has provided both sexes a variety of jokes and frustration, there are researchers and scientists studying the alleged condition with great seriousness. Those who support the existence of male menopause feel strongly that its affects on the male mind and body should be regarded with the same credence that society attributes to the female menopause. Male Menopause begins with declining testosterone levels and is eventually characterized by the following symptoms: hair loss, depression, a slower immune system, weight gain, less stamina for physical activity, forgetfulness, irritability, and loss of or reduced interest in sex. (5) Impotence may also occur. Usually this "change" arises between the ages of 40 and 55, although it has been known to transpire as early as 35 and as late as 65. (6) Several different clinical terms exist for the popularized term "male menopause" such as "andropause" or "viropause". (2) Andropause was named for the hormone "androgen" which is essentially testosterone. It is also the name of the therapy with which they treat a man suffering from male menopause. This treatment comes in the form of injection, skin patches or liquid gel. (5) In order to be diagnosed with male menopause, one must have reached the eligible age then endure a physical exam wherein blood samples will be taken. These samples are tes ted for hormone levels. If these blood samples demonstrate low levels of androgen and the patient seems to be suffering from the symptoms associated wit... ...althy.net/hwlibrarynewsletters/update/malemenopause.htm 7)Human Development Report, provides the average male life expectancy statistics for all countries http://www.undp.org/hdr2003/indicator/indic_199_1_1.html 8)Human Development Report, provides the average female life expectancy statistics for all countries http://www.undp.org/hdr2003/indicator/indic_198_1_1.html 9)ABC Science, short article by ABC questioning the reality of male menopause http://abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s112941.htm 10)ABC Interview, interview with Jed Diamond, author of Male Menopause, a 1998 best seller. who used to be a disbeleiver in male menopause but now firmly credits the possibility of a male 'change' http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/chat_diamond000614.html 11)Women Joke Page, Male menopause joke http://www.y2kwomen.com/recommended/humor2.html