Like the menopause the most likely time for the andropause to occur is between the ages of 40 and 55 and is caused by a drop in hormone levels. For men the hormone in question is testosterone. There is a great deal of variation amongst men when it comes to the amount of hormonal decrease. The larger the decrease the greater the symptoms will be.

Among the most common symptoms linked to the andropause are:

A lack of energy and general fatigue

A decrease in normal sex drive

Problems with erections

Decreasing body strength and muscle mass

Sudden changes in mood

Depression

A tendency for body fat to build up in the upper body and midsection

For women the onset of the menopause is fairly easy to spot as the most obvious sign is changes to the menstrual cycle. For men there is no one clear indicator of the dropping testosterone levels. Symptoms tend to appear gradually and are often put down to stress.

It's important that men should be able to recognise that they may be suffering from the andropause. Although most of the symptoms are fairly minor, the greater the decrease in testosterone levels the greater the risk becomes of more serious conditions like osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

For most men suffering from the andropause no treatment is necessary but in severe cases hormone replacement therapy may be needed to counteract the symptoms and to decrease the long term risks to health. The most usual ways to administer the replacement testosterone are by using skin patches, gel or injections.

This type of therapy known as testosterone replacement therapy or TRT is usually very successful but it isn't suitable for all men. It can't be prescribed if you have ever suffered from prostate cancer. You may not be able to use this treatment if you suffer from heart, liver or kidney disease and the same goes if you have an enlarged prostate, suffer from diabetes or are on certain types of medication.

If you still want to father children you should talk things over carefully with your doctor before opting for testosterone replacement therapy as it may cause temporary infertility. However, normal fertility levels will usually return if the therapy is stopped.

It's thought about 50% of men will show symptoms of the andropause but it's only quite recently that it has started to be recognised for what it is. So if you are suffering from any of the above symptoms and they are impacting on your daily life don't be shy about seeking medical advice.