Andropause—nicknamed “male menopause”—affects about 25 million American men between the ages of 40 and 55, yet the mainstream US medical community has only recently started to recognize this condition, and it continues to be under-diagnosed.

Males in this age group might recognize one or more of the common symptoms, including irritability, depression, memory loss, insomnia, night sweats, erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, decreased strength and muscle mass, and weight gain, especially around the belly. As if that weren’t enough, they may look in the mirror and find that they’ve developed the dreaded gynecomastia, aka “man boobs.”

Andropause can occur with age-related hormone changes in men, specifically a drop in the production of the hormone testosterone. Until recently, however, the symptoms have been written off as “just a part of aging” and have continued to go untreated.  

According to the Journal of Clinical Practice, nearly 40 percent of men over 45 are affected by low testosterone. At about age 30, testosterone production begins to drop, and it continues to decrease at the rate of approximately 1 percent per year. As testosterone drops, both inflammation and body fat increase, causing an increased risk of diabetes and other chronic disease.

An optimal testosterone level is vital to a man’s health and well-being, as it is known to help protect the heart and stave off other hormone shifts a man may experience, such as elevated cortisol and hypothyroidism.

I strongly encourage my patients to address their symptoms proactively in order to better embrace this time in their lives and lower their risk of disease. There are a number of treatment options available involving diet, exercise and getting adequate sleep. In addition, many men have great success with natural hormone replacement therapy.

Dr. Timothy Morley is medical director of Tomorrow Medicine, located at 37 Moore Ave., Mt. Kisco, and 1133 Westchester Ave., White Plains. To schedule a complimentary consultation, call 914.615.9004. For more info, visit TomorrowMedicine.com.