Male menopause confirmed a myth

I have to admit I’m a skeptic. Not in general, but about the male menopause, sometimes called the “andropause”, “male climacteric” or even the “viropause”. More recently, even more names have emerged, including “late onset hypogonadism” and “partial androgen deficiency in older men” (PADAM).
I’ve just read a study and editorial that’s only confirmed my skepticism.
Acknowledging that “menopause in women is an unquestionable condition caused by ovarian failure, with a number of symptoms related to decreased sex steroid production, hot flushes being the most common symptom”, the researchers go on to postulate a male climacteric, whereby age-related decreases in testosterone in men can develop a clinically relevant hormonal deficit.
Of course, the symptoms of male menopause would be subtle, the authors say, and its recognition could be obscured by normal ageing. Convenient really.
And another thing. Call me old-fashioned but I’d always considered the journal Menopause was aimed at doctors gynaecologists, and am not so sure this group is interested in aging men, unless they are one.
Anyway, in a nutshell, the Swedish study found that in men aged 55 to 75, symptoms thought perhaps due to androgen deficiency, including low libido, lack of energy, decreased strength, loss of height and less strong erections, were generally not associated with blood testosterone concentrations.
You’d think this finding would put a significant dent in the researchers’ confidence in the existence of the syndrome.
But in the words of a brilliant editorial in the journal, the issue has been repeatedly examined and shows little evidence of life. “It is now time for a decent burial.”
According to the editorial, the current researchers “describe the syndrome as a natural consequence of ageing”. “What is surprising is the need to revisit the body after so many death certificates have been issued”, it says. “What concerns us is the despondency produced by the results”, the editorial says in response to the following statement by the authors – “Unfortunately, and in line with others, we could not find any connection between those symptoms and circulating androgen levels”.
One can only speculate why researchers are so attached to this syndrome, which smacks of a me-too mentality, just like men who claim they have labour pains.
I suppose there’s money to be made by some drug companies if doctors are allowed, or even encouraged, to prescribe androgens for men without identified androgen deficiencies.
Maybe researchers in this area are so entrenched, their careers depend on it.
Whatever the reason, surely we’re at a point where there are more worthy targets of research.
Menopause 2007; 14; 999-1005.
Menopause 2007; 14; 973 - 5.