Opera star IAN STOREY was relieved to discover he was suffering the symptoms of male menopause – because he was convinced he had a brain tumour.

The tenor visited specialists after feeling tired and developing pneumonia in 2009, and he underwent numerous scans to determine the cause of his exhaustion.

Tests revealed his testosterone levels had dropped and Storey was convinced he had a tumour on his brain, until a medic finally diagnosed him with andropause, or male menopause.

The singer has credited hormone patches with helping him feel “normal” again, and now he’s speaking out to dispel the belief that male menopause is a myth.

he tells Britain’s Independent newspaper, “To be honest, I’d never even heard of it, aside from catching the odd joke about it a couple of times.

“They asked if my libido had lowered; I had just put that down to being tired… a lot of people experience the symptoms, but just put it down to the stress of their job or to the fact that they’re just tired or not sleeping well… The problem is that there are still doctors out there who say male menopause doesn’t exist. But I think I’ve proved it does.

“Since I began to talk about it, I’ve heard of so many similar cases… I’ve had more than 40 emails from people I’ve never met. some ask questions, others write to say thank you. They were feeling the same – or similar – and went to the doctor. Now the quality of their lives have improved as a result.”

My wife has headaches, mood swings, loss of libido and cannot sleep very well. will a treatment help her if it is determined that she is in this state of menopause? she is 38 years old and I have notice a considerable change in the last year. I thought it might be our relationship having issues but, nothing I do or talk about seems to ease any of her stresses. Her cycles are irregular and her flow is also heavy at times. she has complained, saying her body feels like it is on fire. is this a hot flash? she has gained weight and sex seems to cause her some pain and bleeding. HELP please!

This can linger on for years depending on the person. Doctors can help with the symptoms. It sucks.

While 38 seems a bit too early for perimenopause those symptoms are right on! everyone of them!

She could also have a thyroid problem.

I would like to add what a wonderful husband you are. Your concern for your wife is very sweet

It sounds like you may be right on the money.
Estrogen may help her, if she's able to take it.
Have her go see the doctor. It's hard for a woman when she has a loss of libido. she sometimes stresses out more, with the thoughts that hubby may wander if she's not in the mood for love.

maybe she can be going through some pre menopausal symptoms, b/c i know when my mom was hitting her menopausal stage she started getting hot flashes, which will lead to mood swings, and yes she had a bit of head aches, but i am unaware of the heavy bleeding, or the pain or bleeding in sex(of course), so i have no idea about that, but have her check her doctor about the symptoms, also at the drug store near the pharmacy section, you can check those little pamphlets thingy, they usually have some about menopause, you can go pick yourself up one, and/or talk to a pharmacist about it, i know they aren't as knowledgeable as a doctor, but they are quite well informed and you can talk to him/her about that sort of thing, if you are really concerned for your wife.That's sweet though that you are concerned for her like that.Good hubby..lol!!

Sounds like me. I am 46 now. It started when I was in my middle thirties. I cannot get a diagnosis. I have been to the Dr. they say every things fine.UGH!! No, its not. My hair also brakes off. Ha! Ha! I don't have bald spots , I have very thick hair and I can run my fingers through it and its gross, I did find out I have cyst on my Ovaries. They gave me birth control pills for 2 months. I have not gone back, but I am still the same. I went to get my flu shot and I happened to mention that to a nurse practicing who said I needed to go see an endocrinologist. that my symptoms could be caused from the cyst. That's my next plan. I know its my hormones.

yeah, the best is probably estrogen a really low dose, possibly the suppositories will work and they have a lot less risk. The feeling on fire all the sudden is a hot flash, you can tell especially when it is happening if her cheeks get pink or she looks flushed, if that happens let it pass before you continue a conversation they feel awful and just make you wanna say random mean or emotionally incorrect things.
Not sure how the hormones work for libido as mine flipped the opposite way.
I tried all the herbal stuff I could find but the hormone replacement was the only thing that helped mood and hotflashes and the spastic menstral cycles. I still can't sleep worth beans, but three out of four isn't bad.

My wife is going thru the same thing. Hot flashes, no sex drive, nerves are shot, can not sleep, some pain & bleeding during sex, espically about the 3rd week of the month. Likes me one day, wants to kill me the next day,,,be patient, know that the 1 st week after period is the best, declines after that. keep her in a calm cool environment. take her out to eat, limit sexual advances, then be easy, the pain & bleeding sacres women. Finally, on the 3rd & 4th week after period, wear a bullet-proof vest,,,

your in for an interesting time

Treatment might help, but first she will have to go to the doctor to check out what is wrong. It could be perimenopause, thyroid problems, etc. Remember, all of the treatment will happen over time and not at once. be patient with her and support her; hopefully, she'll do the same for you.

BodyLogicMD Bioidentical Hormones Expert Arius Patolot, M.D. Joins Local Practice

NAPERVILLE, Ill.–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–Naperville has long been hailed as one of the country’s most desirable communities to live in and the addition of bioidentical hormones expert Dr. Arius Patolot is just one more reason for residents to celebrate. Dr. Patolot joins fellow BodyLogicMD physician Michelle Schultz, M.D., at her Illinois-based bioidentical hormones practice, BodyLogicMD of Naperville to serve the growing number of local women and men seeking relief from the symptoms commonly associated with aging.

“Weight gain, fatigue, low libido, mood swings and depression, are just a few of the symptoms women and men experience as they age, but these and other issues are not necessarily limited to aging”

“Weight gain, fatigue, low libido, mood swings and depression, are just a few of the symptoms women and men experience as they age, but these and other issues are not necessarily limited to aging,” says Dr. Jennifer Landa, Chief Medical Officer of BodyLogicMD, the nation’s largest network of highly trained physicians specializing in bioidentical hormone therapy. “Many patients even in their 30s learn that an underlying hormonal imbalance may, in fact, be to blame. as bioidentical hormone therapy grows in popularity, the demand for physicians specializing in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) and preventive care has increased dramatically. Fortunately for the Naperville community, Dr. Patolot is available to share his passion and expertise.”

Dr. Patolot partnered with BodyLogicMD to help women and men overcome health challenges brought on by hormonal imbalance and aging, often attributed to perimenopause, menopause and andropause (the male menopause). With the help of state-of-the-art hormone testing, Dr. Patolot can get an accurate reading of a patients hormone levels and assess the condition accordingly, using a combination of personalized nutrition and fitness regimens, pharmaceutical-grade supplements and bioidentical hormone therapy.

“As physicians, we can’t take all of the credit for our patients’ success,” says Patolot. “The women and men who experience the best results are the ones who want to change for the better and are willing to do what it takes. While I am pleased to be a part of their transformation, it takes a true partnership of physician and patient to achieve and maintain optimal health and wellness. as a part of the BodyLogicMD network, I’m thrilled to offer my patients the tools and guidance to do just that.”

More about Dr. Patolot

Arius Patolot, M.D. received his undergraduate from the University of St. Thomas, where he also completed his medical degree. After fulfilling his internship at Maimonides Hospital, Dr. Patolot completed his Residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Chicago, Schwab Rehab Hospital. Dr. Patolot is board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners and received the Top ten Physicians Award from Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, IL.

More about BodyLogicMD

Founded in 2003, BodyLogicMD physician-owned practices make up the nation’s largest and fastest growing network of the most highly trained physicians specializing in natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Integrated with fitness and nutrition programs, BodyLogicMD’s medically supervised programs are for men and women suffering from hormone imbalance associated with menopause and andropause. Also BodyLogicMD is currently featured as an expert resource on Oprah.com; Suzanne Somers’ latest bestselling books “Knockout: Interviews With Doctors who are Curing Cancer and How To Prevent getting it in The first Place” and “Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness” lists BodyLogicMD as an expert resource, and her book, “Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones” dedicates an entire chapter to BodyLogicMD. Florida Trend cover story December 2009, features BodyLogicMD as the national leaders in the growing anti-aging industry; BusinessWeek cover story March 2006, features the BodyLogicMD business start-up story.

Find bioidentical hormone doctors in your area and get more information about BodyLogicMD bioidentical hormone therapy programs.

NEW ORLEANS — It’s called andropause, the time in a man’s life when he stops making as much testosterone as when he was younger. it causes a low quality of life and health problems if men do not get it treated.

Most people know that when women hit their 40s, their ovaries start making fewer hormones. It’s called perimenopause, and as time goes on they start having health problems as they hit menopause and their ovaries stop making hormones. one of those health problems is bone loss called osteoporosis, which can shorten their lives later on.

But few people have heard that the same condition happens in men.

"the things to look for include depression, diminished libido, being lethargic, certainly if one has lost muscle mass and is overweight, if one has conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, these men are at increased risk for a having low testosterone and should be evaluated when these symptoms present," said Urologist Dr. Natan Bar-Chama.

Bar-Chama is the director of Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. he said the male hormone testosterone can begin to wane in men’s 40s, leading to a condition called hypogonadism or low T.

"the testosterone is a crucial hormone. it is responsible for muscle tone. it also keeps your weight down. People who have low testosterone levels often present with obesity and being overweight, but we are looking at bone health testosterone is crucial for maintaining bone density," he added.

The condition can cause osteoporosis or thinning bones in men, just as low estrogen in women causes osteoporosis. he said 2 million men in the U.S. have the thin-bone condition, which can be deadly, because a lot of times once people fall and break their hip or break their bones and never recover.

"let me tell you that is one of the most devastating outcomes of hip fractures, especially in men. If a male has a hip fracture about a third of them will die in the following year," Bar-Chama said.

Low T can also cause erectile dysfunction. While there are many causes of E.D. such as clogged arteries from poor diet and lack of exercise, the doctor says 20 percent of the cases are from low testosterone.

Low T can also contribute to getting diabetes. and those who are already diabetic have a higher incidence of low testosterone.

A simple blood test can tell you if your testosterone level is low. and hormone replacement therapy can help.

"the oral treatment (pills) of testosterone is not effective. There are patches, there are gels, and there are injections, and the gels are predominately the most common form of testosterone replacement in the United States," Bar-Chama said. "It’s very important to realize that what we’re talking about is normalization of levels. We’re not talking about achieving super physiological levels and that is where the risk is primarily noted."

Women can also have low testosterone, which can cause the same symptoms as men: low sex drive, fatigue, depression and weight gain.

The FDA has not approved testosterone replacement for women, but hormone expert doctors use it off label to help women return to normal levels and restore quality of life.