Scientists dismiss "male menopause" as result of unhealthy lifestyles

The phenomenon of the "male menopause" is simply due to men's unhealthy habits, researchers have claimed.

The male menopause is a syndrome that has been linked with an age-related decline in testosterone levels, giving rise to symptoms such as hot flushes, excessive sweating, depression and loss of libido.

However, American experts have now claimed that there is no scientific evidence to support the idea of a male menopause, and that the symptoms being reported are all down to unhealthy lifestyle rather than hormones.

Scientists from the New England Research Institutes in Massachusetts examined data from a study that followed 1,700 men, which revealed that testosterone levels decline very gradually with age, at a rate of around 1% a year. Around 5% of the men did exhibit a hormonal disorder that caused a drop in hormone levels, but this was not linked to ageing.

Presenting the research at the British Fertility Conference in Aberdeen, Professor John McKinley said that the findings "exploded the myth" of male menopause, and described those who support the syndrome's existence as "pseudoscientists".

He said that many lifestyle aspects could contribute to significantly lowered testosterone levels, and the symptoms cited by sufferers were more likely due to alcohol intake, excess weight and lack of physical exercise.

He added: "Worldwide, male ageing is generating public interest and also, incidentally, a lucrative market. Pharmaceutical involvement is producing new treatments, such as testosterone replacement, in search of a disease."

(CL)