Andropause: Men, too, suffer a decline in hormone production as they age

The term menopause is synonymous with reproductive ageing in women. In its simplest interpretation, it is indicative of when monthly periods stop. In terms of reproduction, menopause signals the biological cessation of ovulation and the consequent inability to get pregnant spontaneously. It tends to occur in the late 40s or early 50s for most women.

Many bothersome symptoms are linked with menopause, and so is a heightened predisposition to some disease conditions. There has always been scientific curiosity about a similar phenomenon in men. As men do not get monthly periods, calling such a phenomenon 'menopause' would be erroneous.