The Hour

Hot flushes, violent sweats, mood swings: all symptoms traditionally linked with women as they reach their mid-fifties and the dreaded menopause. But a growing chorus of men are now giving their voice to the argument that the once fabled male ‘menopause’ is just as common and every bit as serious.

Speaking on The Hour, 70-year-old Ian McDonald claims he too has suffered from the male version of the menopause (commonly referred to as the Andropause), and it was only through a simple testosterone procedure that he was able to return to his normal youthful self.

Ian said: “When I reached my mid-fifties my body went into a steep decline. I was having aches and pains, violent mood swings and a loss of concentration. I was become lethargic, and would fall sleep at the drop of a hat.

“Speaking to Doctors, you felt as if you were battering up against a brick wall initially. It was quite frightening really, and I was surprised it could all be sorted out quite simply.”

Although a drop in testosterone levels is completely natural as men get older, the decline can be more rapid for some, which in turns produces the effects similar to those women go through during the menopause. A therapy called Androgen replacement is currently available on the NHS and combats this decline by boosting testosterone levels in sufferers.

Ian, who has had the Androgen treatment, added: “Within weeks of going on the testosterone replacement I was re-born. It felt like I had turned the clock back at least 20 years.”

However, despite the apparent success rate of the pioneering treatment, there are still concerns within the UK medical community surrounding testosterone replacement treatments. A similar hormone procedure, used on women with severe menopausal symptoms, was later proven to cause an increased rate of breast cancer and heart disease.

“We are certainly a bit more conservative in this country,” said The Hour’s Dr. Debbie. “I think that’s because of concerns about the long term affects of testosterone replacement.

“But I would urge any man who is experiencing symptoms common with declining testosterone, such as those suffered by Ian, to contact their local Doctor immediately.”

More information on the male menopause, and the symptoms associated with the syndrome, can be found at the Andropause society website.