There might appear mental and physical changes, but these are much more subtle and difficult to perceive. For that reason, if in popularly parlance it is called masculine menopause or andropause, there are experts whom prefer to speak of partial androgen deficiency in the adult male.

Doctor Jed Diamond defends the existence of this disease in his book "The masculine menopause. Physical and psychological changes in the mature age" (Paidos, 1999).

According to the author, "the masculine menopause implies spectacular chemical and physiological changes that influence man in diverse senses, from their vision of life to their capacity to obtain and maintain an erection".

The most common symptoms that they can accompany this condition are: suffocation, sweating, insomnia, nervousness, irritability and fatigue, reduction of the well-being sensation, lack of motivation, low mental energy, problems in short term memory, depression, minor sexual activity and erections of smaller rigidity.

In addition to a reduction in sexual impetus, often there is loss of enthusiasm in the professional or labor life... also frequently fatigue exhaustion and depression, with a sense of hopelessness and impotence.

Physically there are often rigidity and pains in muscles and joints or gout symptoms and a fast deterioration in the level of physical condition. There can also be signs of accelerated aging of the heart and circulatory system.

The diagnosis of the masculine menopause is complex, since any there are no definitive tests to detect it. A low level of testosterone -in the blood- is not sufficient to diagnose it. The combination of different suggestive symptoms and physical signals, along with a low level of testosterone in the blood, would increase the suspicion of the existence of this condition in the patient.

As far as their treatment is concerned, there are opposite opinions among doctors about this problem. Thus, whereas many doctors do not believe in the existence of masculine menopause and will not offer treatment, others are decided in favor of their existence and frequently diagnose it.

It is usually considered useful a therapy test of testosterone substitution of usually is during three months. If the symptoms do not improve in spite of the increase in testosterone levels, it would not be probably useful to continue the treatment.

If there is improvement, it is advised to maintain the treatment. According to doctor John Dean, specialist in Sexual Health, the men who receive supplements of testosterone would have to make regular medical controls during the first year of treatment, that would have to include a rectal examination of the prostate and blood analysis (cholesterol, triglycerides, PSA, blood red cell count, fundamentally). After this period, revisions are necessary once a year minimum.