Understanding Andropause and Mood Swings

Mood swings, commonly associated with female menopause, are now also being more accepted as a common side effect of male menopause, known as Andropause. These symptoms that keep coming up time and time again are a natural part of the aging process, with men reporting a loss of drive at work and at play, feeling nothing is of use anymore and losing interest in hobbies and previous favorite past times.

The burn out, which can be physical and emotional, is backed by lack of motivation, enthusiasm and vitality experienced by andropausal men due to reduced hormone production during Andropause. Depression too, is a common complaint.

Mood Swings During Andropause: Lost Your Get Up And Go? Saying and Feeling Negative? You Are Not Alone

Many men feel emotional highs and lows during Andropause and these mood swings or ‘feeling down’ in certain cases can go beyond the occasional bouts of irritability and frustration to more severe problems like clinical depression, if not checked in time.

Doctors suggest that the loss of assertiveness and confidence due to bodily changes like increased body fat and decreased muscle tone, sleep problems and memory loss/difficulty in concentration that men go through during Andropause are symptoms that combine to cause mood swings.

The change in self image and perceived social image can cause andropausal men to feel uncertain about themselves and actual physical dysfunction may precipitate the mood swings as a loss of libido creeps up on patients- a touchy topic for all men needing to feel and be virile.

Unanticipated Physical and Psychological Changes during Andropause: Causes of Mood Swings

The most significant concern, or even crisis stage, for andropausal men is when they have to deal with unanticipated physical and psychological changes as knowledge about Andropause is very limited for the average male. Due to the lack of bio-available testosterone during Andropause, men have lowered amounts in their blood. Therefore, tissues in the body that are stimulated by testosterone receive lower than normal doses and various physical and possibly mental changes occur- primary ones being mood swings or fatigue.

Treatment of Andropause Symptom: Mood Swings Making the ‘Grumpy Old Man Syndrome’ a Reality for Andropausal Men

Most health experts agree that the mood swings that andropausal men go through can largely be affected by other symptoms like loss of fertility and decreased libido, sleep problems, hot flashes, increase in body weight and muscle loss. Diagnosing the causes and underlying conditions that are controllable can help treat mood swings and keep them at a minimum during Andropause - and stop you from turning the grumpy old man syndrome into a horrible reality for yourself and your loved ones.

Testosterone Implants-The Gold Standard for Best Therapy When Combined With Psychological Counseling

Mood swings have also been reported by many Andropause patients and some have reported even mild depression, say medical health experts working to raise awareness about male menopause at the national level. Unfortunately, there are no known studies to compare rates of depression in the pre-Andropause and post-Andropause stages in men, though the mood swings associated with changes in testosterone levels can be treated with testosterone implants readily available now.

Patients feeling low in spirits have been helped to alleviate moods through antidepressants but the best remedy still remains as open discussions and psychological counseling to bring back feelings of self- worth.

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