Irritable Male Syndrome

IMS

Are you a middle-aged man who has experienced a complete shift in your general mood, outlook on life and sex drive? Have you, up until now, had a pleasant disposition and been generally happy with your lot but are now finding it difficult to find the fun in anything, suffering from an unexpected and unwanted drop in libido? If you are feeling all these things, you may be from Irritable Male Syndrome or IMS.

Some scientists think that when men reach middle age, they go through their own version of the female menopause.

The mood swings of Irritable Male Syndrome may be caused by a decrease in levels of the male hormone testosterone.

However, it is possible for men to suffer from plummeting testosterone levels - and the associated mood changes- at any time in their lives when they are under a lot of stress.

There has not been a great deal of scientific study concerning a drop in testosterone levels in humans. However, studies on a number of animals, which include primates, have shown that testosterone levels fall, and corticosteroid levels rise, when the animal experiences an increase in stress.

One of the first people to recognize IMS was the Gerald Lincoln of the Reproductive Sciences Unit of the Medical Research Council in Edinburgh. Dr. Lincoln observed IMS in Soay Sheep.

He discovered that in the fall, when mating occurs, testosterone levels in rams are very high. However, in the winter, the rams' levels of testosterone decrease and they lose interest in sex.

Dr. Lincoln noticed that even though we usually associate testosterone with aggressive behavior, when the rams' testosterone levels were low, they were nervous and withdrawn, more prone to injuring themselves and more likely to strike out at other rams for no apparent reason.

Similar results have been found with red deer, Mouflon sheep, reindeer, and Indian elephants.

If you are suffering from a loss of testosterone because you have experienced a stressful situation, such as the death of someone close, divorce or job loss, taking anti-depressants may help you.

The common symptoms of IMS are:

depression, fatigue, irritability, sleep problems and snoring, hair loss (other than natural balding), loss of sex drive, swollen male breasts caused by the increase in estradiol and, in some cases, hot flashes. IMS can also trigger weight gain, loss of muscle tone, gallbladder and gastrointestinal problems and an increase in cholesterol levels.

In many cases, the man may not recognize his own symptoms, but they may be very clear to his partner or wife. If you are a woman in a relationship with a man, have you noticed a recent change in your husband's or partner's behavior? Does he have a short temper and snap at you for no reason when, in the past, he was courteous and gracious? His loss of libido and off-hand attitude towards you may lead you to think that he is no longer interested in you, or that he is having an affair with someone else; in fact, he may be suffering from IMS.

What can be done?

There are some things you can do to increase your body's production of testosterone and so reduce the symptoms of IMS.

Taking regular exercise, such as a brisk half-hour walk every day, will increase your testosterone levels.

Losing weight can also help. Men tend to gain weight around their waists, and studies have shown that fat cells in the abdomen release estradiol, which is created from testosterone. Losing fat around the waist will therefore reduce the amount of testosterone that the body loses.

Eat lots of fruit and vegetables, and avoid eating meat and poultry that may have been fed hormones.

Take a high quality vitamin and mineral supplement.

If you believe you suffer from IMS and none of the above strategies has helped, see a doctor.

The doctor may put you on a course of progesterone if they think you have a hormone deficiency. There are male progesterone creams you can be put on your face every day. Progesterone is normally used to treat PMS in women, but is also known to counter the production of estradiol. Many scientists think that the increased estradiol causes more problems than the drop in testosterone.

Nevertheless, some men may need testosterone supplements.