There are a number of reasons men might experience night sweats, some of them universal and some specific to men. With this article I will address those specific to men, so for other causes of night sweats in men which may trigger night sweats in anyone, please visit this website’s front page: Help For Night Sweats.
The first cause of night sweats in men we’ll discuss is andropause. Yes, andropause. It does exist. Well, at least more and more people are beginning to think so. Just as women experience a reduction in their production of certain hormones during menopause, many feel that men experience a reduction in testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone during an andropause phase.
You will find some controversy in the medical community about the overall nature and condition of andropause. Some simply consider it a “state” or phase, while others consider it a potential “disorder.” If you experience many of these symptoms in your middle or early manhood and you’re cleared of any other medical conditions which may cause them, you may be diagnosed with an andropause disorder. However if you experience this as an older man, it may simply be diagnosed as a state or phase.
Yet because men can continue to reproduce well into their old age, some researchers feel this is a “false” diagnosis or label for this “disorder.” Put simply, there really isn’t a cut and dry answer for what andropause means just yet.
Common symptoms of andropause (whether defined as a state or disorder) are as follows:
- Hot flashes
- Excessive perspiration
- Loss of libido
- Impotence
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Impaired memory
- Lack of concentration
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
Of course, you may not experience all these symptoms (let’s hope not, right?), but let’s focus on the hot flashes and excessive perspiration symptoms. It is important to understand that these result from hormonal changes in your body. And while more drastic and permanent hormonal changes occur during andropause, it isn’t uncommon for men to experience an ebb and flow of hormones throughout their life.
An embarrassing for some but real example involves a common occurence for most healthy men. It isn’t uncommon for a man to experience random erections while asleep. This is a result of hormonal rushes in the body. These same hormonal rushes can cause night sweats in men. Often it isn’t unhealthy or unnatural, but if the sweats become more severe and more consistent each night, then you should discuss this with a medical professional.
While this article is mostly about night sweats specifically in men, I must also note that some dangerous conditions can be indicated by night sweats, including:
- HIV
- Tuberculosis
- Thyroiditis
- Diabetes
- Infections of various sorts
- Malignancy: cancers can cause sudden rising and falling body temperatures, which leads to sweating.
If you experience a sudden change in your pattern of night sweats which involves more severe or more frequent sweating, consider consulting a physician. It may be nothing to be concerned about, but of course it is better safe than sorry.
As you can see, it is possible some men can empathize for a woman’s battle with menopause night sweats.
I hope this helps you better understand the specific night sweats in men. I encourage you return to Help For Night Sweats often as we roll out more and more detailed information to round out your understanding.