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Andropause, the male equivalent of menopause is real, although more subtle than menopause. Estrogen levels in women decline abruptly after menopause. With men, there is a gradual decline in androgens, the male sex hormones, usually starting in the 40's. Along with the decline in androgens is a rise in SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin), which are proteins that bind to testosterone that limit the amount and effectiveness of this hormone as men age. As with the age-related decline of human Growth Hormone (hGH), the loss of testosterone contributes to the familiar "pot belly" and declining muscle tone in middle-aged men. The symptoms of the male menopause include a waning interest in sex, difficulty in having and maintaining an erection, and decreased sexual satisfaction, as well as fatigue, depression, irritability, aches and pains, and stiffness.
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