Testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism)
Lifestyle factors or psychological problems are often responsible for many of the symptoms described above.
For example, erectile dysfunction , loss of libido andmood swingsmay bethe result of either:
There are alsophysical causes of erectile dysfunction, such as changes in the blood vessels, which may happen alongside any psychological cause.
Read about the causes of erectile dysfunction .
Psychological problems are typically brought on by workor relationship issues, divorce,money problems or worrying about ageing parents.
A "midlife crisis" can also be responsible. Thiscan happen when men think they've reached life's halfway stage. Anxieties over what they've accomplished so far, either in their job or personal life, can lead to a period of depression.
This is known aslate-onset hypogonadism and it can cause the "male menopause" symptoms mentioned above. However, this is an uncommon and specific medical condition that isn't a normal part of ageing.
A diagnosis oflate-onset hypogonadism can usually be made based on your symptoms and the results of blood tests used tomeasure your testosterone levels.
Read about male menopause, where some men develop depression, loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction and other physical and emotional symptoms when they reach their late 40s to early 50s.
The "male menopause" (sometimes called the "andropause") is an unhelpful term sometimes used in the media to explain the above symptoms. This label ismisleading because it suggests the symptoms are t
Lifestyle factors or psychological problems are often responsible for many of the symptoms described above. For example, erectile dysfunction , loss of libido andmood swingsmay bethe result of either
If you're experiencing any of the above symptoms, see your GP. They'll ask about your work and personal life, to see if your symptoms may be caused by a mental health issue, such as stress or anxiety.
Your GP may also order ablood test to measure your testosterone levels. If the results suggest you have a testosterone deficiency, you may be referred to an endocrinologist (a specialist in hormone pr