Male Menopause & Depression

Male menopause, or andropause, is a drop in testosterone that occurs gradually as men age. Although the condition may be shrugged off as just another sign of aging, men should be alert to the fact that their depression, fatigue and moodiness could be a sign of andropause. Most men between the ages of 40 and 55 experience andropause to some degree, according to psychotherapist Jed Diamond, author of "Male Menopause."

Significance

• Testosterone can begin dropping in small amounts as early as the 30s, with symptoms that are similar to what women experience in menopause. These include mood changes and irritability, depression, fatigue, weight gain, osteoporosis, absent mindedness and, in the case of men, erectile dysfunction.

Considerations

• The decline in testosterone is so gradual in men that andropause is sometimes misdiagnosed as clinical depression. When the various symptoms from low testosterone are combined, further testing is needed to determine whether male menopause is the culprit.

Identification

• A doctor orders blood tests to measure testosterone levels and performs an examination to rule out other medical conditions that may be responsible for the symptoms. A testicular biopsy will determine if there is a testicular abnormality that is the cause of low testosterone levels.

Solution

• Testosterone replacement therapy helps some men find relief from the depression caused by male menopause. Hormones are delivered as a gel, patch, injection or orally. The doctor and patient will determine which method will work best.

Warning

• Not all depression in older men is caused by low testosterone or male menopause. It is important to see a doctor to determine if there is a medical reason for symptoms of depression. What's more, treatment for depression may cause andropause symptoms to become worse. An examination to rule out andropause as a cause should be conducted before antidepressants are prescribed.