A medical expert, Dr. Omotuyi Mebawondu, has explained that although men do not experience menopause in the same way women do, they can develop a condition known as Androgen Decline in the Aging Male (ADAM), commonly referred to as andropause.
Speaking during Platforms Africa’s e-Discourse, Mebawondu said the term “male menopause” can be misleading because men do not experience the sudden hormonal changes seen in women during menopause.
He explained that while menopause marks the permanent end of menstruation and ovulation in women after the ovaries stop releasing eggs, testosterone levels in men decline gradually, dropping by about one percent each year from around the ages of 30 to 40.
According to him, menopause is a natural stage of aging in women and typically occurs after the age of 40. However, some women experience premature menopause due to factors such as the surgical removal of the ovaries, cancer, or certain medical treatments that affect ovarian function.
On the male condition, Mebawondu said ADAM is an age-related decline in testosterone production caused by the gradual aging of the testes. He noted that unlike female menopause, the condition affects only a small percentage of men and is not considered a normal stage of male development.
He added that doctors usually diagnose late-onset hypogonadism when a man presents multiple sexual symptoms alongside testosterone levels below 11 nanomoles per litre.
The expert said testosterone plays a vital role in regulating sex drive, muscle mass and strength, bone density, fat distribution, sperm production, and red blood cell formation. As hormone levels decline with age, some men may experience reduced libido, fatigue, loss of muscle mass, and increased abdominal fat.
Mebawondu also noted that symptoms commonly linked to andropause may not always result from low testosterone alone. Conditions such as diabetes, chronic stress, excessive alcohol consumption, and emotional challenges during midlife can produce similar symptoms.
He added that ADAM can affect men of all races, with symptoms developing once androgen levels fall below the body’s required threshold.