Health (or lack thereof) is still a touchy subject for a lot of Irish men. Unfortunately health issues are often ignored as they are somehow perceived as some kind of a personal failure and lack of manliness. There is a lot of great work being done currently to address this.

June is international Men’s Health Month and I’ve decided to look at the controversial topic of the Male Menopause. The menopause is traditionally associated with women where it is well understood as it is a well-defined period in which hormone production stops completely and menstruation ceases. In men there can be a parallel process associated with reduced hormone production which is not as clear cut - obviously some men are healthy and virile into their eighties. Some doctors refer to this process as the Andropause, because they attribute it to androgen decline or low testosterone.

Many men might ignore the symptoms associated with this phase of life. We all fear aging however it can be a more traumatic erosion of confidence to the male having been condition by society to be all powerful and manly. So many simply hope these symptoms will go away or decide they need to compensate and buy a new car to boost their self-confidence. But what if these problems have a basis in poor nutrition and lifestyle choices and not just something that will go away if you ignore them?

It is a fact that men experience a decline in the production of the male hormone testosterone with aging, which can also occur with some conditions such as diabetes. Along with the decline in testosterone, some men experience symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, depression, and sexual problems. Some men have a lower than normal testosterone level without signs or symptoms. For others, low testosterone might cause:

Changes in sexual function. This might include erectile dysfunction, reduced sexual desire, fewer spontaneous erections, such as during sleep and infertility. Testes might become smaller as well.
Changes in sleep patterns. Sometimes low testosterone causes sleep disturbances, such as insomnia, or increased sleepiness.
Physical changes. Various physical changes are possible, including increased body fat; reduced muscle bulk, strength and endurance; and decreased bone density. Swollen or tender breasts (gynecomastia) and loss of body hair are possible. Rarely, you might experience hot flashes and have less energy.
Emotional changes. Low testosterone might contribute to a decrease in motivation or self-confidence. You might feel sad or depressed, or have trouble concentrating or remembering things.

It's important to note that some of these signs and symptoms are a normal part of aging. Others can be caused by various underlying factors, including medication side effects, thyroid problems, depression and excessive alcohol use. A blood test is the only way to diagnose a low testosterone level or a reduction in the bioavailability of testosterone. There are a number of approaches to treating the Andropause, some involving hormone replacement therapy but this can have side effects so must be considered carefully with your GP.

Some safe and sensible options that should be considered to help improve your health during this phase are :

Make healthy lifestyle choices. Eat a healthy varied diet and try to reduce sugar, junk foods, excess salt and excess alcohol. These foods can all disrupt hormone production and cause you to become exhausted and reduce your virility.
Exercise is very important, as exercise increases testosterone levels as well as helping to reduce other symptoms including bone loss, weight gain, muscle loss and sleep disturbances. Exercise also helps to regulate your blood sugar which can be a factor in helping to prevent male pattern baldness as well as reducing weight and improving energy. Most experts agree that you don’t need to go to the gym every day – a few walks every week plus a good cycle on the weekends would be an excellent start.
Seek help if you feel down. Depression in men doesn't always mean having the blues. You might have depression if you feel irritable, isolated and withdrawn. Other signs of depression common in men include working excessively; drinking too much alcohol, using illicit drugs or seeking thrills from risky activities.

Other treatment options include trying hormone balancing supplements, for example Nature’s Plus (the company who offer the excellent digestive supplement GI Total Digestive Wellness) have just launched T Male, which contains a number of excellent nutrients to help balance male hormones. Vitamins E, C B6, minerals zinc, selenium, boron and magnesium all help the body improve testosterone levels naturally, and Fenugreek, grape and apple extracts all boost fertility and libido as well as balancing hormones.

For loss of libido or erectile dysfunction, it is first essential to check with your GP if this could be an indication of something more serious afoot or a side effect of any medication you might be on. After that there are a number of natural options you can try, for example Panax Ginseng or Chinese Ginseng which generally improves blood flow and has been long known as a male tonic; L-arginine which appears to help with erectile dysfunction by enhancing the action of nitric oxide, which in turn helps dilate your blood vessels, including those supplying blood to your penis. As blood vessels in your penis dilate, it increases blood flow, which helps maintain an erection. (This is also how drugs like Viagra work.)