Is andropause the male version of menopause?

Synopsis: Once a month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Female menopause has gained increased awareness in recent years, but male menopause - more commonly referred to as andropause - remains seldom spoken about. Men can happily talk about current affairs, real estate, or local dining spots, yet topics like hormonal changes, chronic fatigue, and sexual health often encounter total silence.

Still, andropause is real. While testosterone levels drop gradually with age, andropause - medically known as late-onset hypogonadism - is diagnosed only in men whose hormone levels drop low enough to cause disruptive symptoms. 

To unpack the topic of age-related testosterone decline, host Joyce Teo interviews Dr Lau Wei Da, a senior consultant and the head of department of urology at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. Lau is also the president of the Singapore Urological Association.

Listen in as they explore why sexual health problems are the first major clue to undiagnosed metabolic diseases for some men here.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:00 How similar is male menopause to female menopause?

2:19 How can I tell if I have andropause? 

5:10 How is it diagnosed? 

8:19 How does the over-replacement of testosterone affect men?

11:57 The men’s health clinic has had cases of men seeking help to improve their fertility

16:55 Not everyone who has testosterone deficiency needs testosterone replacement

19:05 Could an issue in the bedroom be your very first warning sign for undiagnosed diabetes or high blood pressure?

23:44 Can I use Tongkat Ali as a testosterone booster?

27:23 Men trying to conceive ought to steer clear of T-boosters

Read Joyce Teo’s stories: https://str.sg/JbxN 

Host: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: