Still, for some, this drop in testosterone can lead to symptoms that are primarily sexual but also physical and psychological. In bulk: a decreased sexual appetite, less frequent morning erections, erectile dysfunction, a drop in energy and an increase in weight, a reduction in muscle mass and more frequent joint pain. And as for women in perimenopause, men can also experience a depressed mood, hot flashes and significant sweating, alopecia and cognitive disorders.
“Female cycles are well known. But who knows about the existence of male cycles? No wonder we don’t hear about this subject, the theme of male cycles is unknown, underestimated, while this awareness would allow us to experience more fulfilling“, explains Olivier Mageren, sexologist and member of the non-profit organization Love Health Center
Sedentary lifestyle, tobacco, alcohol, poor lifestyle
In either case, it is extremely rare for these symptoms to all occur at the same time, fortunately! That said, many factors related to poor lifestyle can aggravate age-related androgen deficiency: “Overweight or obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, stress, consumption of tobacco, alcohol or narcotics (cannabis, marijuana), an unbalanced diet and especially too much sedentary lifestyle“, explains a urologist working for Livi, a platform for managing men’s health. Pathologies and lifestyles that are constantly increasing in the West.
Fortunately, there are solutions available, ranging from hormone replacement therapy, after diagnosis by a urologist, to healthy lifestyle adjustments, such as regular exercise and a balanced diet.
Pulling the midday demon by the tail
But in fact, is the “midday demon”, according to the popular expression that is more often associated with men who question their lives and especially their relationships in their forties or fifties, also a consequence of this hormonal decline?
“This feeling of crisis or questioning can actually be linked to andropause, which has consequences on sexuality and emotions.“, explains Dr. Jendebien. Infidelity, attraction to younger women (or men), the desire to experiment with one’s sexuality in libertinism would be a way of reassuring oneself in one’s virility as an aging man?
“Testosterone is the key hormone of masculinity. The fear of losing one’s sexual function has been embedded in cultures since the dawn of time! More than aging, it is impotence that is the greatest concern of men“, explains anthropologist Philippe Brenot. Especially if they are weakened without even knowing it by andropause. Because it is “a little-discussed process that calls into question male sexual omnipotence,” Andropause is still a little-known and taboo subject. But which, like menopause which speaks of aging, public image, relates to a feeling of self-devaluation.
The rout… of everything
The male archetype must change: vulnerability is also constitutive of man, concluded the film “A look at andropause, the great rout?” by Rémy Burkel. Recently broadcast on TV in Belgium and France, this documentary has the great merit of lifting a corner of the veil on “the shame” that assails a man affected where it hurts the most: “It was the fact that I could no longer get an erection that made me realize that there was a problem.“, explains the director.
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