Similarities and Differences Between Female and Male Menopause

The noticeable similarity is in that some of the symptoms are the same in both men and women: irritability, fatigue that cannot be explained away by activity etc., weight gain, feelings of anxiety and fear, hair thinning or loss and a decrease in sexual libido.

Just like in any other comparison between male and female issues there are bound to be similarities and differences regarding the aspect of menopause. What are the similarities and differences and how do they support the existence of male menopause or disprove it?

One big difference between female menopause and the idea of a male menopause is that for females the ovaries run out of ova just before or during the period of time known as female menopause. Remember it takes 12 months of not having a menstrual cycle to be considered that the woman is indeed in menopause. The male on the other hand, does not run out of sperm. The healthy male can in fact continue to manufacture sperm well into his eighties.

The noticeable similarity is in that some of the symptoms are the same in both men and women: irritability, fatigue that cannot be explained away by activity etc., weight gain, feelings of anxiety and fear, hair thinning or loss and a decrease in sexual libido.

Here is the list of female symptoms associated with menopause:

Aching or sore joints muscles or tendons

Anxiety

Bloating that may come on suddenly

Body odor may change

Breast tenderness

Is There A Male Menopause This blood test is performed because an imbalance of hormones is suspected for the cause of the patient's symptoms. It is these symptoms that catapult the patient to seek medical advice and to receive a diagnosis. The analysis of symptoms is a crucial part of the evaluation process for any medical team to consider when deciding on a diagnosis.

Burning sensations of tongue or roof of mouth

Cold flashes or feeling clammy

Depression

Difficulty concentrating

Disorientation or mental confusion

Dizziness

Dry Vagina

Fatigue that can seem extreme

Feelings of apprehension or dread

Hair thinning on head, public area or arms and legs

Heartbeat irregularity

Hot flashes

Increase in facial hair

Irregular menstrual periods either light and short, or flooding and over a longer than normal number of days

Irritability

Loss of balance

Loss of libido

Memory Loss

Mood swings

Night Sweats

Tingling feelings in arms and legs

Tinnitus (ringing in ears)

Here is the list of male symptoms associated with menopause:

Bone deterioration

Feelings of anxiety and fear

Decreased Libido

Decreased physical endurance

Depression

Difficulty concentrating

Fatigue that can seem extreme at times

Increased sexual fantasies about a new and younger sexual partner

Indecisiveness

Irritability

Sleep Disturbances

Thinning or loss of hair

Weight gain

Drawing blood for both men and women who are undergoing medical evaluation regarding menopause tests for hormonal levels of FSH is another similarity. This blood test is performed because an imbalance of hormones is suspected for the cause of the patient's symptoms.

It is these symptoms that catapult the patient to seek medical advice and to receive a diagnosis. The analysis of symptoms is a crucial part of the evaluation process for any medical team to consider when deciding on a diagnosis. The first thing that any medical professional will do is to take a complete medical history. The symptoms are a part of that medical history. They leave clues for the medical team to follow that will steer them to which tests to order that will give them further information regarding what is causing the symptoms. Some symptoms may lead to a disclosure of the presence of a condition or disease that may be the root cause of some of the symptoms. Some symptoms may be attributed to the aging process. Other symptoms may turn out to have the explanation of being associated with menopause. The diagnosis of menopause especially in males is really made after all other reasons for the symptoms are explored and ruled out. Medical history, physical exam, blood tests; the process of diagnosing the patient is the same for males and females.

Male Menopause or Andropause

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