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• Andropause shows up in mood swings, fatigue, belly fat, but many men feel it’s old age, stress
• What men over 40 need to know about andropause, by medical experts
By Kehinde Aderemi
For a lot of men, being sexually active is tied to strength, drive and overall sexual health. But when those things gradually slip, it becomes a major issue. Studies have shown that as women experience menopause as part of their life cycle, men have continued to ignore the realities that comes with andropause.
According to experts, andropause is a medical term used to define a period when the male hormone, the testosterone, begins to decline gradually from about the third to the fourth decades of life. A lot of men suffer in silence because they lack the basic knowledge of what andropause is, including the symptoms and how it could be managed as they grow older. For many, andropause is not just a medical issue. It is a lifestyle, social, and emotional experience men usually face in silence. When energy and motivation slip, the result can be anxiety, low mood, and withdrawal. The medical community, it was gathered, agreed that decline in the testosterone levels in men begin from ages between 30 and 40. Medical experts also explained that andropause is gradual in men and is also an age-related decline in testosterone, the primary male sex hormone.
Apart from the age-related ailments, findings also revealed that sicknesses like hypertension, diabetes, smoking, high fat, blood fat, lack of sleep, lack of exercise and alcohol have severe effects on men.
As it is generally agreed that most women experience menopause at a very later stage of their lives, it is not always the case with men. Findings reveal that andropause, in some cases, begins much earlier than expected. However, men rarely talk about it. Not because it is insignificant, but because some men believe such hormonal change come with societal shame. It was gathered that there are books, clinics, and groups that support women with advocacy services, especially during the early stage of their menopausal years. But when men begin to experience their own age-related hormonal decline, the conversation almost disappears. Yet, the millions quietly face changes that affect their bodies, minds, relationships, and sense of identity.
According to medical experts, a good number of men ignorantly engage in activities that can easily affect their testosterone levels and that could also lead to faster decline in the levels.
Findings also revealed that men, especially, those that are in their middle-ages are prone to having gradual decline in testosterone levels, whereas older people of ages 70 and above have 60 per cent less testosterone levels than when they were 25 years old.
To mitigate the decline, experts also advise men, especially the middle-aged, to cut down on belly fat. Fat belly, they said, is the biggest destroyer of testosterone. An urologist and medical expert, Edidiong Uko, explained that belly fat produces anti-hormone that competes with it, noting that heart hormone really affects testosterone levels. Uko advised men to cut down on belly fat, reduce alcoholic intake and eat food that contains all the essential fatty acid, vitamin D, zinc, and protein.
“I always believe that as you get older, the more protein you need. Protein is very important for middle-aged men and older men. And then physical activity and good sleep in particular. Unlike menopause, which brings a sudden, complete stop to ovarian function, men’s hormonal change is slow, subtle, and very often it is misunderstood,” he said.
Medical professionals say testosterone typically decreases by one per cent to 1.6 percent per year starting around age 40. For them, there’s no dramatic pause, just a steady hormonal drift a lot of men mistake for stress, aging, or personal failure.
“Andropause isn’t a collapse; it’s a slow drift that many men don’t recognise until it affects their daily lives,” Uko said. For decades, testosterone issues have been reduced to one health issue – erectile dysfunction affecting the libido. But doctors say that is only a small part of the story. For instance in men, testosterone is a master hormone that touches almost every system in the body. When it declines, the effects show up far from the bedroom.
According to experts, testosterone is produced mainly in the testes, with a small amount from the adrenal glands. It peaks in a man’s late teens and early 20s, then it also begins a gradual decline of about 1 to 1.6 percent per year from age 30 or 40.
Andropause symptoms, findings revealed, range from mild to severe, and fall into three major categories.
Most men will experience sexual symptoms like reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, and decreased fertility as well as physical symptoms, including fatigue and low energy even after sleep, loss of muscle mass, decreased bone density, increased abdominal fat, especially around the belly. These, according to medical professionals, are some of the symptoms that bring men to the clinic. Abayomi Ogunbekun revealed that health experts usually urge men from age 40 and above to recognise symptoms of age-related testosterone decline and adopt lifestyle and medical care for better quality of life.
“As men age, their bodies undergo natural hormonal changes similar to menopause in women. This condition, known as andropause or late-onset Hypogonadism, is a gradual decline in testosterone levels that typically begin after age 40,” he said.
Some of the causes of andropause, he stated are combination of normal aging, testicular and pituitary gland changes, as well as lifestyle factors.
Ogunbekun explained further that key contributors include chronic stress, obesity, diabetes, poor sleep, excessive alcohol, and certain medications. Belly fat, he noted in particular also accelerates the decline by converting testosterone to estrogen.
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“A lot of men mistake andropause symptoms for just getting old or depression, thus delaying proper care. But as medical professionals, there is a need for us to educate people on some of the approach to be taken.”
Some of the approach, he said include weight management and good nutrition that can naturally boost testosterone. He advised individuals to cultivate daily medical evaluation – a simple morning blood test for testosterone, as well as regular screening for diabetes and thyroid issues, which he said helps in confirming diagnosis.
According to Ogunbekun, treatment options for men with confirmed low testosterone and symptoms, include lifestyle coaching and, when appropriate, physician-supervised Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT). He advised that men should be encouraged to speak openly with their doctors and not suffer in silence. Spouses, families, and faith communities must also play a key role in encouraging regular health checks.
“Men should not take andropause lightly. Seek medical help early and seek enlightenment as regards this condition from medical experts, not from your friends, family or neighbours,” he said.
Meanwhile, Olaoluwa Jegede a physician said as men age and sleep quality declines, testosterone drops further, which then makes sleep worse. He explained also that andropause symptoms are vague. According to him, fatigue is blamed on work, irritability is blamed on family, and weight gain is blamed on age.
“Physical activity is also very important because without the testosterone, you lose lean muscles. Muscle is not just for looks. It burns calories, supports joints, and protects against injury.
“Few men think about bone health until a fracture occurs. But testosterone plays a direct role in maintaining bone density. It helps convert to estrogen in small amounts, and both hormones signal bone cells to keep building new bone. When testosterone is low for years, bones become thinner and more fragile. This raises the risk of osteoporosis and fractures in men over 50,” he said.
Jegede also emphasised that low testosterone also linked to lower red blood cell production, adding that fewer red blood cells means less oxygen to tissues, which explains the constant fatigue and brain fog many men describe.
“Doctors now include bone scans in the workup for men with persistently low testosterone, especially if they have had unexplained fatigue or back pain. But how do you explain the ignorance of some young men who treat andropause with local herbs soaked with gins?
“Whenever I see young men in the streets buying local herbs, also known as Opa eyin or Afato in local parlance to cure natural health issues like andropause, I feel bad. Perhaps, this is not necessary because they are sick or having health challenges, but because of peer pressure and the need to belong.
“Many of them use the local herbs as sex enhancement products. Men that experience low sperm count and other similar ailments also take sex enhancement drugs as remedies and that is complete ignorance,” he said
He added that although testosterone naturally declines by 1-1.6% yearly from age 30 to 40, lifestyle and health can speed it up. Jegede also agreed that chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol interfere with hormone production, even as obesity creates a very dangerous cycle.
“Belly fat produces compounds that lower testosterone, and low testosterone makes it harder to lose belly fat.
“Other accelerators include poor sleep, chronic stress, smoking, excess alcohol, and even medications for long-term illnesses,” he said.
Medical experts also say one of the best ways to manage andropause is to cut belly fat through less sugar and more movement, ensure they enjoy a seven-to-nine hours of sleep. All these, they say, are necessary because that’s when testosterone is made.
“People should eat to support hormones with protein, healthy fats, zinc, and vitamin D, while cutting down on alcohol.
“Daily exercise with a mix of strength training, cardio, and walking to build muscle and burn fat is also necessary and also by managing stress and avoid smoking.
“When lifestyle isn’t enough, doctors may consider Testosterone Replacement Therapy, but only under supervision.”
Findings also revealed that when testosterone is medically confirmed to be low and symptoms are significant, TRT may be considered. The TRT, doctors said is available as: gels, patches, injections, and pellets. It can improve muscle mass, bone density, and sometimes mood and sexual function, but it must be professionally supervised.
