Tired? Not interested in sex? Mister, you might be in andropause

Is male menopause a true medical condition or just a good punchline when you're fifty-something and not feeling quite yourself?

You know, "Oh, that male menopause must've kicked in."

Could your doctor really diagnose male menopause, or is it merely a phrase that Oprah or GQ use to hook you?

My middle-aged male editor wanted to know.

No punchlines here, my friend, er, boss.

There is such a thing as male menopause (though technically the name is all wrong -- but we'll get to that).

The hormonal change is real and so are a multitude of symptoms that can accompany it -- from a loss in libido or erectile dysfunction to fatigue or depression. And, yes, sometimes even night sweats.

Every woman who lives long enough will experience menopause -- a (permanent) pause in her menstrual cycle that signals the end to the steady stream of the hormone estrogen her body makes. Hence the name menopause.

Normally, this happens between the ages of 45 and 50. And the dramatic drop in hormones can trigger all sorts of physical and psychological changes.

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Tired? Not interested in sex? Mister, you might be in andropause

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