Archive for January, 2010
Male Menopause
Male Menopause
It is a wrong notion that menopause only occurs in women. Menopause is a problem that occurs in men. Menopause in women is said to occur when the ovaries of women produce less and less amount of estrogen and after a certain period the production is completely stopped. Menopause is said to occur in women after the age of 40 years. The average age of women menopause worldwide is said to be 50.2 years. Today we delve into the topic of male menopause. Male menopause is also known as Andropause. Andropause in men is caused due to low testosterone levels. Male menopause is also regarded as a natural cessation of the sexual function in elder man. Male menopause is also known as sexual regression in men over the age of 40 years due to decreasing hormone levels. Men suffering from menopause also suffer from the same psychological and physical disorders as women in menopause. Men also suffer from low confidence level, mood swings and depression. Physically men suffer from decreasing levels of androgens and estrogens as women. Men also suffer from bone related disorders like osteoporosis. Men also lose sexual drive during male menopause. Women like men also suffer from the loss of sexual desire. The decreasing hormone levels in men due to male menopause have a negative impact on the mood and mental abilities. There is lack of concentration on tasks, erectile dysfunction and urinary problems. Testosterone is a hormone produced by the testicles and it regulates the structure of all body proteins and the integrity of genitals in adult men. The other symptoms in case of male menopause is weight related disorders and obesity. The face looks aged and the muscles and the bone tissues begin to weaken. The body organs fail to function at their full potential. Then there is high blood pressure, clogged arteries, increased cholesterol and high estrogen levels add to the woes. It is necessary that if any of the above symptoms persist for a long time, then a doctor’s opinion should be sought after. Testosterone Replacement Therapy is the most sought after treatment for male menopause. Testosterone Replacement Therapy can be prescribed in the form of injections, oral medication, gels and transdermal patches. Capsules are given to men who can’t take injections. Patches are also a very good option to ensure that testosterone is released steadily. Testosterone levels should be maintained at optimum levels to provide the best benefit to men suffering from menopause.
Early Menopause
Early Menopause
Early menopause refers to a stage in a woman’s life between the ages of 35 to 45 years when the estrogen levels in the body begin to decline. The ovaries are not longer able to produce the required amount of this important hormone and hence early menopause begins to slowly take its slow. Early menopause is said to be that period when the estrogen levels begin to decline unlike menopause where the body completely fails to produce any estrogen at all. Early menopause is also known as premature menopause or perimenopause. In other words early menopause is menopause that happens well within the average age of menopause when you are still in your 20s, 30s or 40s. Early menopause refers to total cessation of periods of 12 months before the age of 45. The frequencies of periods begin to lengthen as the level of estrogen in the body goes down. However in some women the frequency of periods might in fact shorten as normal ovulation is affected. Hence once you experience the above symptoms for a relatively longer time it is necessary to consult your doctor immediately. Generally if you have not got any periods in the last 12 months consecutively, if you still have ovaries and if your hormone levels test at post menopausal levels, you are likely to suffer from early menopause. Premature ovarian failure is also one of the root causes of early menopause. You will soon begin to experience menopausal symptoms like irritation in the vagina, hot flashes and sleeplessness at night, depression, anxiety and mood related disorders. You might have increased sugar levels in the body and also suffer from obesity. Sometimes you stop having normal periods not because your body does not have eggs but your body is not responding to signals to ovulate. Also the main difference between early menopause and normal menopause is that in early menopause the body’s ability to produce estrogen begins to decline while in menopause the body’s ability to produce estrogen stops completely. You may not get normal periods but you may still ovulate. Up to 25% of the women roughly do still get periods but they may still ovulate from time to time. Studies also show that 8%-10% of the women also become pregnant during early menopause. Early menopause may also be caused by surgery and cancer treatment. In case of oopphorectomy, the ovaries are surgically removed and so you no longer produce ovarian hormones. In the case of pelvic surgery, the blood flow to the ovaries might have been interfered and after a certain time may have caused ovarian failure.
Hair Loss Menopause
Hair Loss Menopause
Menopause starts to develop in women between the ages of 35-45 years. It is a natural ageing process in which the body’s capability of producing important hormones like estrogen and progesterone decreases. The most common symptoms of perimenopause are irregular menstrual cycles, irritation and pain in the vagina and osteoporosis. Hair loss is also one of the most common symptoms of menopause. Balding refers to the gradual loss of hair in both, men and women and it can start occurring right from the age of 12 years. It is usually milder in women. It is also observed that menopausal women who have a high number of male sex hormone also experience thinning of hair which then gradually leads to balding. The other problems that have been associated with hair loss in menopausal women are thyroid disorders, fungal infections, excess weight loss and a life full of stressful activities. The symptoms of menopause lead to gradual hair fall in women. Poor blood circulation and clogged hair follicles will also lead in hair loss. Also it is seen that heavy medications are provided to patients suffering from menopause. These medicines come with their own side effects, hair loss being one of them. Cancer may occur in the advanced stages of menopause. It is very natural that patients with cancer also suffer from hair loss. Hair loss is irreparable and then people have to seek treatments like hair weaving and wearing wigs. Antidepressants taken by menopause patients also have powerful side effects that may lead to hair loss. The quality of hair becomes thinner, leading to split ends, dandruff and ultimately loss of hair. The other medicines that lead to hair loss are oral contraceptives, blood thinners and cholesterol lowering medication. Testosterone replacement for menopause patients can also lead to hair loss. Women who suffer from hair loss may resort to taking prescription medicines like Rogaine with alopecia. If the medicine is given orally at prescribed doses, it promotes the quality of hair and its growth. If you experience hair loss it is necessary to visit the doctor and seek his consultation. Chances are that hair loss may not be because of menopause symptoms at all but other causes. Hair loss is something that women would not like to experience as women regard their hair a very important part of their overall personality. Women may lose confidence and their self esteem if they lose their hair.