Do you experience Depression? This could be Erectile Dysfunction, Symptoms of Male Menopause or Andropause
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the medical term given to erection problems and impotency. It is simply defined as the continual inability to maintain an erection for satisfactory intercourse - the erection isn’t hard enough for penetration or for ejaculating.
There are a number of reasons for erectile dysfunction, both physical and psychological.
Physical problems are the cause of the majority of ED cases, with psychological problems only causing a small percentage.
In most cases the physical cause is that there simply isn’t enough blood flow to the penis. This may be caused by high blood cholesterol, diabetes, stress, drugs, smoking, and excessive alcohol intake.
Psychological reasons include stress of failure, low sex drive, depression, anxiety, relationship problems and frustration.
There are a number of options for treatment of ED including the following:
Oral (taken via mouth) treatments
These include medications like Cialis, Viagra, Levitra, and Uprima.
In most countries these medications need to be prescribed by a doctor after a check of the patient’s blood pressure and an explanation of side effects – which may include effects flushing, headaches, etc.
Stimulation is still required to make these tablets work. At our clinic these tablets have an approximately 60% success rate.
Gel treatment
A medicated gel containing prostaglandin is inserted into the urethra (eye of the penis), absorbed from within and begins an erection 3-5 minutes later. In this case stimulation is not required. Due to the method of application, this form of treatment is not very popular.
Injection Therapy
At 95%, this method has the best success rate but is not to every ones liking. A prostaglandin or MIX is injected into a site around the base of the penis, allowing the blood to flow into the penis. This method works within 3-5 minutes and does not require stimulation to get an erection.
Injection therapy also has a high success rate in severe cases of premature ejaculation. The medication allows you to ejaculate and still maintain an erection afterwards.
Symptoms of Male Menopause
The symptoms of male menopause (or the Andropause) are not as sudden as the changes women experience, tending to creep up very gradually.
Symptoms that are indicative of male menopause are:
Mental Attitude
- Loss of drive at work and at play.
- Can’t be bothered, no motivation.
- Lack of enthusiasm.
- Depression
- Loss of ‘get up and go.’
- Negative about things in general.
- Poor concentration.
- Less effective at work.
- Failing memory.
- Inability to plan a series of moves.
Physical
- Loss of strength: Muscle weakness can be very insidious. Without being aware of men find they have to use their hands more to get out of chairs or up stairs. If left untreated there is gradual atrophy (wasting) of the muscles.
- Loss of energy: Many men find they are very tired by early evening, or are falling asleep in front of the TV.
- Joint or muscle stiffness or aching.
- Reduced fitness.
- Signs of accelerated aging of the heart and circulation. If you have had significant heart trouble: get your hormone levels checked, as there is often a correlation.
- Increased sweating: Some men notice increased sweating with exertion or at night. It is not uncommon to stain the bed linen from excessive sweating.
- Flushes: Some men even get hot flushes similar to those experienced by women going through the menopause, although their hands and feet often remain cold.
- Skin changes: Dryness of the skin, a tendency to get rashes easier, lack of lustre in the hair.
- Bone Density: In severe cases, the bones are affected and become osteoporotic.
Emotional
- Mood swings
- Feeling down
- Depression
- Irritability
- Easily frustrated
- Loss of assertiveness
- Loss of confidence
Sexual
- Loss of libido: (loss of interest in sex). This can be gradual.
- Physical changes in sexual performance: Morning erections occur less often and are short lived. Erections with sexual stimulation are not as stiff as they used to be, progressing to inability to maintain an erection, then inability to even achieve an erection.
These unanticipated physical and psychological changes can be cause for significant concern or even crisis amongst sufferers.
The spouse is often at a loss to understand how the husband she knew could have changed so much. This can result in a powerful combination of anxiety and doubt, which can lead to total impotence with sexual frustration and marital breakdown.
In Boston, a report on a recent study of 1700 middle-aged men found that 51% of normal, healthy males age 40 to 70 suffered from the above male menopause symptoms. The aging process alone can not be responsible for this problem as well over 40% of males remain sexually active at 70 years of age and beyond.
What is the Andropause?
Andropause is the male menopause. It is a number of symptoms that results from decline in the amount of the male hormone, testosterone, in the body. In other words Andropause is low testosterone. Symptoms include:
- erectile dysfunction
- reduced libido
- lack of energy, tiredness, lethargy and fatigue
- reduced exercise tolerance and strength
- changes in mood; commonly depression, anxiety, irritability
- joint pains and stiffness
- poor concentration and/or memory
- pale, dry skin
- increase in weight around the tummy and chest
- Causes and Treatment of Male Menopause
- Andropause
- What is the Andropause?
- What causes the Andropause?
- What can be done for men with the Andropause?
- Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)
- What can be expected from testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)?
- What are the side effects of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)?
- How is testosterone replacement therapy managed in the long term?
If you think you might have Low Testosterone...check out our quick online self assessment test.