Men's Midlife & Erectile Dysfunction
Jan 14, 2022
Is your man showing signs of a midlife crisis? The red Corvette in the driveway is always an indicator. Joking aside, male menopause can reveal itself in several ways. The male hormone, testosterone may be low. If testosterone is low, he could be experiencing erectile dysfunction which leads to a loss of confidence and vitality. This phenomenon usually happens to men in their mid to late 50s. [link]
Other Factors that May Cause Erectile Dysfunction
Smoking, thyroid-related issues, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, stress, alcohol consumption and diabetes. Other signs of low testosterone include hair loss although this can be a natural part of aging. Reduced bone and muscle mass may occur since testosterone helps to produce bone tissue and maintain healthy muscles. Working out regularly with weight-bearing activities such as weight lifting, yoga, Pilates and walking can offset muscle atrophy and maintain strong bones.
Men may notice a reduction in the size of their testicles and/or their semen during ejaculation. Lowered sex drive has been reported with diminished testosterone also. Although hot flashes are typically experienced by women during menopause, men have reported them also. Energy, fatigue, mood swings and irritability can be experienced by men with lowered testosterone levels. An increase in body fat and some men also develop gynecomastia which is the enlargement of their breasts.
Checking for low testosterone is a simple blood test with your healthcare provider. While at the doctor’s office, he might as well get a full workup including a CBC (complete blood count) test and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test. The CBC test evaluates overall health and may detect a wide range of disorders including anemia (low iron), autoimmune disorders, bone marrow problems, cancer, dehydration, heart disease, infection and inflammation.
The PSA test checks for prostate health and can help identify an enlarged prostate and other inflammatory conditions in men. The prostate-specific antigen is a protein in blood that is often higher with prostate cancer, a non-cancerous condition such as an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) or inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis). The PSA test is recommended for men aged 55-70 or those over 40 with certain risk factors, such as African-American men or men with a family history of prostate cancer with any male family member.
Lifestyle! Lifestyle! Lifestyle!
While changes in lifestyle and diet alone may not raise testosterone levels sufficiently, they often help. Exercising regularly also boosts male hormone levels. Obese people should lose weight which can increase their testosterone count. In addition to exercising, losing weight and good nutrition; consider adding a chiropractor, naturopath and nutritionist to your healthcare team. Another great addition is a healthcare provider who offers Functional Medicine or Regenerative Medicine. These providers can offer that little extra with B12 and Vitamin D injections, and additional testing to assess “function” rather than “disease”.
