
Audio By Carbonatix
The "male menopause" is a myth, according to a review.Some doctors have linked a fall in testosterone levels as men get older to symptoms such as depression and low sex drive.But an editorial in Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin says many men reporting symptoms have normal hormone levels.They warn against giving synthetic testosterone as it can increase the risk of prostate cancer.Doctors are divided on the idea that men go through a well-defined "menopause".Some doctors advocate the use of synthetic testosterone to relieve some of the symptoms associated with so-called male menopause such as weakness, depression and sexual problems.But the journal says that unlike the menopause in women, where levels of the female hormone fall dramatically, testosterone levels fall by only 1 to 2% a year from the age of 40 onwards in men.Around 80% of 60-year-olds and half of those in their 80s still have levels within the normal range.The editorial concludes: "There is no place for testosterone therapy in older men without symptoms, or without clearly low testosterone concentrations on more than one occasion."
Risks vs benefitsCommenting on the report, Dr Ian Banks, a GP and president of the Men's Health Forum, said: "What the paper says is that the doctor must assess the risks versus the benefits of giving testosterone."He said men seeking a "quick fix" for symptoms such as tiredness and lack of sex drive should consider lifestyle changes first."We've got to get the message over to resist the temptation of the quick fix and look at things such as lifestyle that you can do something about," he added.Source: BBC
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Joy FM was birthed over a bowl of fufu’ – Tommy Annan-Forson shares interesting story
52 seconds -
World Athletics to introduce standalone World Marathon Championships from 2030
6 minutes -
Africa’s voice in global journalism grows as funding, AI and misinformation shape newsrooms
8 minutes -
First Atlantic Bank holds Annual General Meeting, reports strong growth and bold 2026 outlook
10 minutes -
Ghanaian-founded fintech WeWire secures Canadian PSP license to bridge African, global payments
13 minutes -
Uganda confirms 2027 AFCON dates
21 minutes -
40 convicted in Northern Region crime crackdown
21 minutes -
‘We’re days away from parts of the world experiencing actual shortages:’ Eric Nuttall on energy
31 minutes -
‘I’m Obroni in every country’ – Coco Blasian on music, survival and making Accra home
32 minutes -
IMANI wants NIC to probe possible conflicts of interest in reinsurance arrangements
44 minutes -
First Atlantic Bank strengthens balance sheet as net interest income surges 67%
48 minutes -
Choplife Gaming donates to Korle Bu Radiotherapy unit for Women’s Week 2026
50 minutes -
Would President Mahama have reduced cocoa prices if this were an election year ? – Annoh Dompreh asks
53 minutes -
Passion, not survival, should drive career choice – Dr Kofi Annan
53 minutes -
Climate change, pollution and overfishing push White Volta fishermen to the brink
53 minutes