Male Menopause

Men Go Through Menopause, Too

As many as one third of men experience symptoms that are consistent with menopause, say Swedish researchers.

The BBC reports a research team from Linkoping University found that symptoms such as sweating and hot flashes were relatively common in men over the age of 55.

The scientists believe the same protein -- called CGRP -- could be responsible for symptoms in both men and women. The protein acts to expand the blood vessels, which can lead to both sweating and hot flashes.

They asked more than 1,800 men over the age of 55 whether they had experienced menopausal symptoms. And they found the symptoms were more likely among men who also showed symptoms typically associated with low levels of the male sex hormone testosterone. These included reduced muscle strength, poor stamina and low spirits.

In a second study, the researchers studied the impact of acupuncture as a potential treatment for menopausal women and found that in some women it reduced discomfort by about 75 percent.