When we hear the word "menopause" most of us don't immediately think of men, but men too can suffer from some of the symptoms a woman goes through during menopause. This article will go over some of the reasons men and menopause may actually go together after all.
Over the last few years there has been more said about so called "male menopause". Obviously, that is not a totally accurate way to say it since men don't menstruate and menopause literally means the end of menstruation, but it does refer to other issues that men may share.
One thing that men and menopause do have in common are hot flashes. Men can actually suffer from hot flashes just like women do.
And, like the hot flashes suffered from by women, the possible types of relief available are hit or miss in their effectiveness – to say the least.
One of the most common reasons for men to suffer from hot flashes is due to a type of therapy used to treat prostate cancer.
Some of the medications and treatments used to treat hot flashes may actually make your cancer spread so you do need to be very careful which ones you use and always talk it over with your doctor before you start.
Here are a few ideas of medications that may provide relief. Make sure you talk with your doctor first since only he can advise you of the safest course of action based on your unique condition.
1. Antidepressants have been shown to provide some relief from hot flashes for women and men. The downside is that it may lead to sexual dysfunction for men.
Depending on the antidepressant another possible side effect could be an increase in blood pressure.
Ask your doctor to find out the pros and cons as well as weigh the risk vs. reward for each type.
2. Another promising drug to help control hot flashes for both men and women is a drug used to stop seizures in epileptics.
One of the possible side effects, though, is dizziness. Again, talk to your doctor about the side effects before you fill that prescription.
3. If you are a man who suffers from hot flashes but aren't undergoing therapy for cancer, you may have other options too.
Many women have had good success with natural herbal remedies to control their hot flashes.
Things like Black Cohosh or Red Clover have been said to provide some relief. But, again, these may still have side effects so definitely talk to your doctor first before taking them.
And, you must remember that the results are hit or miss at best. Some swear by these treatments while others have had no relief from taking them. Only you can find out if they will work for you or not.
At the end of the day there are a lot of options of things you can try to alleviate your symptom. Unfortunately it is largely a matter of trial and error until you can find the right combination to get rid of your symptoms.
But, even though it is a challenge to find the right "mix", it isn't impossible. Just talk to your doctor about men and menopause to get answers and ideas for relief.
