Introduction
Men have a
cycle too?
Cisgender
boys do not go through their menstrual cycle. However, the amount of their
testosterone may vary throughout the day which could cause many mental as well
as physical effects.
Like women,
men also experience hormonal changes. A man's T-levels often change from being
high in the early morning to low in the afternoon. There is a day-to-day
fluctuation in the changes. According to some, these up-and-down states can
resemble premenstrual syndrome (PMS) due to mood swings, fatigue, and
depression.
Counselor of
Carl O. Helvie Cancer Institute in the Center for New Medicine, Jed Diamond,
PhD, suggests that any hormonal variations that men experience can be described
as a "male period." In his book, "Irritable Male Syndrome",
he coined the term. He states his claim that cis men have hormonal cycles
similar to women, which leads to the tongue-in-cheek terms
"man-struation" or "male period."
While this
is typically the case with respect to women, sexual expert Janet Brito, PhD,
LCSW, CST, says that females have menstrual cycles that are directly connected
to their reproductive systems and infant creation. It is worth noting that an
individual with a penis or the sex that gives birth to an individual with a
penis, generally, doesn't experience a menstrual cycle, which happens as a
result of the release of an egg from the ovary and the lining of the uterus
shedding in the absence of fertilization.
Yet, Brito
acknowledges the possibility that the levels of their testosterone, the men in
this case might see variations and that could lead to different symptoms. These
symptoms might be analogous to those of PMS, but they do not make men have a
real "male period."
Male
Hormonal Cycles
Among those lesser-known and recognized issues is the male hormonal cycle. Unlike females, males do not ovulate every month, nor do they release an egg from the sex glands. While a woman's monthly cycle is very hormonally regulated, men produce sperm and testosterone throughout the year without any system regulating monthly production. Some researchers consider male hormones to be seasonally regulated. For example, men become more sexual during spring and summer because their libido and testosterone levels increase during those seasons. Biologically, males want to reproduce before winter. And from an evolutionary viewpoint, there were rational reasons to get a baby during such specific times of the year like better genetic health and better weather conditions.
Apart from
the seasonal variation in hormone level, testosterone levels among men peak
early in the morning and decline gradually through the day with slight
increases associated with increased physical activity. Scientists, however have
yet to agree whether there is a weekly and monthly hormonal cycles for men as
observed in women.
Male
Hormonal Imbalance
An imbalance in the male main hormone, testosterone, combined with changes in cortisol, insulin, and thyroid hormones, can cause an hormonal imbalance in males. There are four common types, including:
- Andropause- Most people refer to this as "male menopause", and this is due to low levels of testosterone.
- Adrenal Fatigue-is a condition brought on sometimes by lengthy stress, which is from too little cortisol, our stress hormone.
- Hypothyroidism: This is a condition where there is low production of thyroid hormones resulting from an underactive thyroid gland.
- An overactive thyroid gland producing too much thyroid hormone more than required by the body may cause hyperthyroidism.
The
endocrine organs produce, store, and release hormones into the bloodstream. When
the endocrine system does not work properly, it causes an imbalance of hormones
in the body. Consequently, diseases or pathology, also known as hormonal
imbalance, take place. Some of the causes that were associated with hormonal
imbalance among males include chronic stress, diabetes, poor nutrition, and
iodine deficiency among others.
Male
hormones and skin health
- These are the major fluctuations in male sex hormones, also known as androgens, which greatly influence the health of the skin. Though both sexes can produce this hormone, males do it in much higher proportions. The main type of androgen, testosterone, interacts with a number of skin-based receptors of sebaceous glands. Increased testosterone prompts increased production of sebum; if this mixes with blocked follicles, it may cause bacteria, inflammation, and eventually hormonal acne.
- Stress, exercise, sexual activity, age, and genetics all impact testosterone levels and spikes. Dr. Zenovia adds, "Pertaining to a stress-based acne flare in males, heightened levels of cortisol are seen with states of stress. Furthermore, many men boast that their acne is less problematic if they frequently take care of business downstairs, although it's not clear if this is due to increased testosterone circulating in the system or just that they are generally happier overall. According to Dr. Zenovia, there are hormonal changes in men throughout their lifetime, but clinically, as of now, they have not been very well described, and they also lack an external cue, such as menstruation in women.
The Rhythm
of the Male Cycle
As a matter of fact, the testosterone in men is manufactured at night. It peaks up to 8 a.m. in the morning when further production gradually decreases to the lowest levels between 7 and 9 p.m. Then this cycle starts once again and goes on repeating every 24 hours.
Curiously, men do not tend to feel these changes. This makes a lot of sense, since any negative effects from testosterone production would likely disrupt their sleep cycle, which is used in the synthesis of testosterone itself.
In contrast
to men, hormonal changes for women serve to interfere with sleep. During one
month, following ovulation and just before menstruation, estrogen levels would
drop; this raises body temperature. This shift adversely affects both sleep
time and quality, and it occurs each month.
The Male
Cycle and Working Life
Fortunately,
the hormonal cycle of males corresponds well with standard working hours and
daily schedules. Men perform optimally during the day by the nature of their
cycles, as it complements well the 9-to-5 lifestyle.
This
alignment is particularly good to harness in the morning when testosterone
levels are at their highest, giving us energy, confidence, and will. Generally,
throughout the day, there is enough testosterone to be positive and motivated.
By
lunchtime, higher levels of testosterone enhance productivity, attention, and
cooperation. And when the testosterone levels begin to fall, it perfectly
matches the end of the workday. Isn't that great?
What Does
Testosterone Do for Men?
Testosterone
is a pretty major sex hormone that exists in men. It affects everything from
energy levels to confidence, motivation, and of course, sex drive. It is going
to affect muscle mass, strength, cognition, and even your memory. You can kind
of count on just how testosterone is going to take effect in men. For example,
young guys might become more prone to behaviors that are a little riskier when
some beautiful woman appears because their testosterone levels go up with the
presence of one. Those primal instincts are still strong!
On the other
hand, high levels of the same hormone relate to increased assertive and
confident behavior, although other studies indicate this is at the cost of
empathy. This could be understood through an evolutionary perspective wherein
excessive empathy would make a man unable to defend himself against predators.
Shockingly,
testosterone levels are generally lower among married men with small children
than among unmarried men.
Women also
experience hormonal changes, but their symptoms are both physical and mental.
Many times, the beginning of these symptoms occurs just before menstruation,
and the symptoms can be so hard that it interferes with day-to-day life.
Commonly referred to as Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS, they can include severe
mood swings, breast tenderness, cravings, cramps, acne, anxiety, headaches, and
bloating.
What Can a
Man Do About Changes in Testosterone?
Admittedly,
there are options in the form of gels or testosterone boosters, which may help
arrest the fall to a certain extent, but these a man should only resort to
under the guidance of a doctor. The side effects of taking supplemental
testosterone are not yet understood very well. Of course, if there were a magic
pill-a Herculean dose that gave one instant muscle mass, erections to die for,
cured depression, and made one confident-almost every guy would almost kill for
such a thing. Unfortunately, it doesn't work this way.
It also
depends on a healthy lifestyle for keeping testosterone at healthy levels.
Thus, the best way for men is the traditional one: regular physical activity,
proper nutrition, and avoiding stress when you can. These habits will lead to
more stable hormone levels and reduce the symptoms of menopause.
Hopefully,
this article helped explain the male hormonal cycle and how it differs from a
female cycle.
In case you
have more questions about your cycle, feel free to get in touch with us and we
will try our level best to help you.
But if you
want to know more about the male cycle, then the two following tips could be
helpful:
- The Testofactor by Ralph Moorman
- Heimwee naar Begeerte by Ivan Wolffers
Conclusion
and recommendations
These
findings suggest that men require further education and training about
menstruation and period products, and how to support people in undertaking
adventurous activities. A socio-biological-cultural framing within which there
is integration of biological and social can help carry out effective
remediation (Thorpe, Citation 2012). This must be implemented in the broad
levels of action for inclusion suggested by Anderson et al. (Citation 2021):
awareness, intentionality, and strategy. Even though this study focuses on
adventurous activities, the outcomes of these studies have implications beyond
the adventure activity context.
Although the
study recognizes that completely removing the stigma around menstruation is
tough to realize, the following recommendations are made: First, toilet facilities
around adventure activity venues should be such that they provide free period
products and space for managing menstruation safely with disposal options,
taking into consideration the needs of the broader LGBTQIA+ community. Second,
it provides education and training to men and women regarding the management of
menstruation in the outdoors to help encourage shared conversations about best
practices. Lastly, encourage outdoor educators, leaders, and instructors to
open up dialogue about menstruation management with participants to promote
inclusivity and access.
This raises
the important question of how individuals can better learn and access
information about best practices in the management of menstruation while
outdoors. Indeed, blogs exist that share experiences and tips for managing
outdoor period management-namely, NOLS, Citation 2021; UKClimbing, Citation
2022-but most refer to "women" and place the onus on those who
menstruate to manage their needs. There is scant literature in the English language
for leaders; however, a recent text by Education Outdoors New Zealand
(EONZ)-Watson, Citation2022-that includes indigenous perspectives and
rainbow-inclusive practices is taking the conversation into new territory.
This
research identifies that we have not yet realized a culture of inclusion and/or
visible commitment with regards to menstruation in adventurous activities.
Although the good practices identified key elements, it seems that there is a
greater recognition of inclusivity, but there should always be a "journey
of continual improvement" (Anderson et al., Citation2021). This study
therefore provides further support for the need for open discussions and
guidance with males regarding this topic to support all participants in
adventurous activities.