To start with, whatever happens to a male body is due to the simple biological fact that when you hit 40, your hormones take recourse of 10 to 15 years decline. This dip in the hormone levels makes it hard to sleep, you tend to put on weight, you experience brain fog, grow irritable and anxious, even the libido level lowers down, and you feel mostly demotivated. Now, let us understand in-depth, exactly what happens to a male body at 40.
#1 Hormonal Changes
- As soon as a man turns 40, his testosterone levels begin to decrease at a steady rate of 1 to 2% every year.
- There is also a decrease in Dehydroepiandrosterone which is a testosterone precursor, growth hormone, and melatonin.
- On the other hand, there is an increase in the follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, cortisol, and estradiol.
- Other hormone levels may remain stable, like insulin, but their receptors become less sensitive with age, which means they are less functional.
Solution: Exercise, supplementation, and hormone replacement therapies can all help control these hormonal changes.
#2 Decrease in Sperm Quality and other reproductive issues
- Studies show that there is a direct proportionality between a man’s age and the time taken by their female partner to conceive; confirming that increased male age results in decreased chances of pregnancy.
- This is again due to the decrease in sperm quality that comes with age, which is the result of the hormonal changes described above, which are most pronounced after the age of 40.
- Problems like lower sperm concentrations, low motility, decreased morphology, low seminal volume, and DNA fragmentation in sperm cells, become predominant.
Solution: There are some scientifically tested treatments and therapies to improve male sperm quality; that include supplements of D-Aspartic acid, vitamin D, vitamin C, and zinc. Additionally, certain exercises can also be helpful.
#3 Sexual Dysfunction
Hormonal changes with age lead to sexual dysfunction, as it is hormone balance is crucial for sexual functioning. Sexual dysfunction includes changes in sex-related variables such as satisfaction, erectile frequency, and sexual desire. For example, men at 40 tend to experience three erections lesser per month.
Symptoms of sexual dysfunction like erectile dysfunction at 40, low sex drive, and mood swings may be the result of stress, depression, or anxiety. Lifestyle factors or psychological problems can also lead to these problems. There are also physical causes of erectile dysfunction at 40, such as smoking or heart problems, which may happen alongside any psychological cause.
Solution: The keys to improving sexual functioning lie in hormonal balance and stress relief. Testosterone and DHEA supplementation can improve age-related sexual dysfunction, as can vitamin supplements such as vitamin D, zinc, and D-Aspartic Acid, mentioned above, which often act by increasing serum testosterone levels. Increasing testosterone is crucial in improving sexual functioning. Meditation and yoga are research-backed methods to relieve stress and therefore can be helpful to improve sexual functioning.
#4 Andropause or “male menopause”
Andropause is often referred to as “male menopause”. This term is inappropriate as it suggests the symptoms are the result of a sudden drop in testosterone in middle age, similar to what occurs in female menopause; which is not correct.
Although testosterone levels fall as men age, the decline is steady at about 1% every year, which is unlikely to cause any problems in itself.
A testosterone deficiency that develops later in life, also known as late-onset hypogonadism, can sometimes be responsible for these symptoms, but in many cases, the symptoms are nothing to do with hormones.
In some specific cases, instead of lifestyle or psychological problems, hypogonadism can give rise to the symptoms of “male menopause” where the testes produce few or no hormones.
Other possible causes of “male menopause” include:
- lack of sleep
- a poor diet
- lack of exercise
- drinking too much alcohol
- smoking
- low self-esteem
#5 Late-onset hypogonadism
Hypogonadism is sometimes present from birth, which can cause symptoms like delayed puberty and small testes. It can also occasionally develop in the later stage, especially in cases of men with obesity or type 2 diabetes.
A diagnosis of late-onset hypogonadism can usually be made based on your symptoms and the results of blood tests used to measure your testosterone levels.
#6 Other issues
- mood swings and irritability
- loss of muscle mass and reduced ability to exercise
- fat redistribution, such as developing a large belly or “man boobs” (gynecomastia)
- a general lack of enthusiasm or energy
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia) or increased tiredness
- poor concentration and short-term memory
These symptoms can interfere with everyday life and happiness, so it’s important to find the underlying cause and work out what can be done to resolve it.
What can you do?
- Do not hesitate to take help.
- Consult authorized healthcare experts only, and do share your medical history.
- Do not hesitate to share your professional and personal life details, because these would help the doctor to see if your symptoms are due to any mental health issues.
- You may ask for ED medicines like Fildena tablets, viagra, etc. There are numerous patients out there who have already tried Fildena tablets and are quite pleased with the results.
- In case stress or anxiety are the reasons for your ED symptoms, you may go for talking therapy like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
- Daily exercise, meditation, or other relaxing techniques may also help you.
