Experts Say Men Can Suffer Their Own Version Of Menopause Called "Irritable Male Syndrome"

"We seem to have reached peak "get off my lawn" culture, with men having temper tantrums all over the damn place. Whether they're typing shrill all-caps messages, foaming at the mouth with road rage or aggressively punching holes in your drywall, men seem to be angrier than ever. And with a "boys will be boys" cultural mindset that provides a free pass on bad behavior to men well into their final decades, it's hard to know when, or if, these antics will ever end."

"Maybe not, but the term "irritable male syndrome" does exist, and in the two decades since it was coined, it's become accepted in medical and psychological circles. While not a clinical diagnosis, experts say it's an accurate description of a cluster of symptoms that often appears in aging men. "Along with the term 'andropause,' which refers to male menopause, it's a useful shorthand for describing what happens to men through gradual testosterone decline and hormonal changes,""

"According to Houman, the most common symptoms are: Mood changes, including irritability, lower motivation, and feelings of depression Cognitive changes, like difficulty concentrating or memory lapses Low energy and fatigue that isn't explained by poor sleep alone Reduced libido and fewer spontaneous erections Loss of muscle mass and strength despite regular exercise Increased body fat, particularly around the midsection Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or poor-quality rest These symptoms don't happen overnight, he said."

The term "irritable male syndrome" describes a cluster of symptoms that often appears in aging men and has gained acceptance in medical and psychological circles while remaining distinct from a formal clinical diagnosis. The label, along with "andropause," serves as shorthand for changes resulting from gradual testosterone decline and hormonal shifts. Common features include mood changes such as irritability and depression, cognitive difficulties like poor concentration, low energy and unexplained fatigue, reduced libido, loss of muscle mass, increased midsection fat, and sleep disturbances. Testosterone peaks in late teens to early twenties, stays relatively stable through the thirties, then begins a gradual decline of about 1%.

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