The question that a great many men begin to wonder about in the period of about 35–50 years of age is "at what age does the male change of life begin", and whether the symptoms they are facing — such as reduced energy, changed sexual desire, or muscle mass being harder to build — are merely a change according to age, or a signal that should receive assessment in earnest.

This article gathers the questions met often about the state of the male change of life, or Late-Onset Hypogonadism / Andropause, together with a medical explanation about the mechanism of the hormone testosterone, in order to help one be able to consider when one should go for examination and assessment by a doctor.

What is the male change of life in clinical terms?

The male change of life, or Andropause, is a state connected with the change in the level of the male hormone, particularly testosterone, which is an important hormone that has a role in sexual capacity, muscle mass, the density of the bones, energy, mood, and the working of the metabolic system.

In general, when men enter the period of 30–40 years of age, the level of the hormone testosterone may gradually decrease according to age at an average rate of about 1–2% a year. However, the decrease of the hormone does not occur in the same way in everyone, and does not mean that every man will have clear symptoms of the male change of life.

The symptoms usually arise from several factors together, such as the changing level of the hormone, the quality of sleep, accumulated stress, the metabolic state, body weight, abdominal fat, the working of the system of blood circulation, and health overall. Therefore, assessing the state of the male change of life should not be considered from age or the testosterone value alone.

At what age does the male change of life begin?

The answer is that there is no fixed age that applies to every man.

Some men may begin to notice the change from their late 30s or early 40s, while some may have a level of hormone that decreases according to age but still have no symptoms clearly interfering with daily life.

The important thing is therefore not only asking "at what age does the male change of life begin", but considering it together with the symptoms that arise, the continuity of the symptoms, and the effect on the quality of life, such as work, relationships, confidence, sleep, and physical capacity overall.

The signals that may indicate the state of the male change of life

The symptoms of the male change of life may arise gradually, and sometimes may be misunderstood as merely stress from work, insufficient rest, or tiredness according to age. The signals that should be noticed are

Sexual desire decreasing, or sexual capacity changing from what it was
Feeling chronically exhausted, having less energy, or recovering more slowly than normal
Concentration, short-term memory, or clarity in work decreasing
Muscle mass being harder to build, even though one tries to exercise
Fat accumulating in the area of the abdomen increasing, or the shape of the body changing
Changeable mood, being easily irritated, confidence decreasing
Not sleeping soundly, waking in the middle of the night, or feeling unrefreshed after waking

However, these symptoms do not always mean the male change of life or a low male hormone, because they may be connected with other states, such as chronic stress, the quality of sleep, metabolic disease, depression, side effects from medicines, or other health problems.

For this reason, examination and assessment by a doctor is important, in order to distinguish the causes and lay down an approach to care suited to each individual.

When should one go for assessment of the male hormone?

If the symptoms begin to affect the quality of life, relationships, or work, or several of the symptoms arise together continuously, an in-depth assessment of the male hormone may help make known the state of the hormone and the related accompanying factors clearly. Suitable assessment does not consider only the level of total testosterone, but covers metabolic factors, the system of blood circulation, and the related structures.

The PYONG MEN approach to assessment

At PYONG MEN, assessing the male change of life begins with an in-depth examination of the body, namely analysis of the proportion of muscle mass and abdominal fat, and assessment of the muscles of the pelvic floor, together with laboratory examination of the Comprehensive Endocrine & Metabolic Panel kind, in order to analyse the level of the hormones in depth and completely. And in those who have symptoms of erectile dysfunction as well, examination with Color Doppler ultrasound in the area of the pelvic floor may be considered in order to assess the vascular state alongside. The plan of care will be designed specifically for the individual after assessment complete in every part.

In brief

The level of testosterone in men begins to decrease on average 1–2% a year from the period of 30–40 years of age
There is no fixed age for the beginning of the male change of life, since it depends on accompanying factors such as metabolism, stress, and sleep
The signals that should be noticed are decreased sexual desire, exhaustion, decreased muscle mass, increased abdominal fat, and changeable mood
Suitable assessment should cover the hormones, the metabolism, and the vascular system, not only the total testosterone value alone
If the symptoms interfere with the quality of life continuously, assessment should be received from an expert physician

FAQ

Q: At what age does the male change of life begin? A: The level of testosterone begins to decrease at an average rate of 1–2% a year after the period of 30–40 years of age. However, the age at which the symptoms become clear differs in each individual, depending on heredity, the way of life, and underlying conditions.

Q: How do the male and the female change of life differ? A: The female change of life arises from the ovaries ceasing to work rather rapidly, while the change of hormones in men arises gradually over several years, and not everyone will have clear symptoms.

Q: Do symptoms of exhaustion and not wanting to have sexual intercourse certainly mean the change of life? A: These symptoms may be related to a low male hormone, but they can also arise from other states, such as the quality of sleep, a state of stress, or metabolic disease. Examination and assessment will help distinguish the causes more precisely.

Q: What kind of examination of the male hormone counts as complete? A: Suitable examination should cover more than the Total Testosterone value, including the factors connected with metabolism and the system of blood circulation, which the doctor will interpret according to the context of each patient.

Q: Can the state of the male change of life be restored? A: The approach to care depends on the diagnosis specific to the individual, and may cover adjusting the way of life, restoring the environment at the cell level, and caring for the accompanying factors. The outcome may differ in each individual.