What’s really happening, in many cases, is the approach of a period in a man’s life that is commonly known as andropause, or male menopause . Unlike women, men don’t experience a stoppage of their ability to make children, but more of a gradual slump caused by lowering levels of testosterone in one’s body. Since a man’s testosterone levels drop by 10 percent every decade after he reaches the age of 30, the older you get, the less of it you will have. Andropause varies depending on the man, and in most cases, for men between 40 and 55, can get very severe.

As you may be aware, testosterone is a really important hormone in a man’s body, responsible for regulating many functions and promoting male characteristics, such as increased muscle mass. It also helps with sexual performance and stamina. You can imagine, then, how quickly things will go south if one’s body isn’t making enough testosterone. Fortunately, there are treatment options available, but only if you know that testosterone deficiency is what’s ailing you.

The thing is, most men and most regular doctors don’t even consider testosterone deficiency as a possible cause. Often, the symptoms of testosterone deficiency, which include fatigue and restlessness, decreased bone and muscle mass, heart problems and loss of energy, are seen as being caused by some other disease or condition. For instance, depression, one of the most common symptoms, is dealt with through the use of anti-depressants. This is fine for controlling the depression on its own, but while one’s testosterone levels remain too low, the depression will just keep coming back, and it will soon be followed by other worrying effects.

The simple solution is to check for testosterone deficiency if you’re feeling ill once you reach the age of 40, by which time the average man’s testosterone production has definitely fallen from when he was younger. This is especially true if your ailment lasts for a long time, or doesn’t seem to go away, even if you should be in fine health by all accounts. If it is indeed discovered that your testosterone levels are lacking, then a good treatment program should have you up and running again within a few months.

Meanwhile, there are other things you can do to avoid falling victim to a severe bout of andropause. A healthy diet and regular exercise seem cliché, but they keep your body working at its best, which means your testosterone production is likely to stay at its highest possible levels, after the age factor. Also, more frequent sexual intercourse stimulates testosterone production. It is a sex hormone, after all. Lastly, try to get the requisite hours of sleep every night, so that your mind and body are restored with each awakening.

So, the next time you are feeling out of sorts with no real explanation, you may want to check out your testosterone levels. What you discover could be the first step towards lasting improvement.