Irritable Male Syndrome…Did you know there is such a thing? Of course, you knew that guys could be irritable, but did you know there’s a syndrome with a physiological cause?



Based on the name, do you think you know someone who has it? If you’re a guy, is it possible you do?



An estimated one in five men has Irritable Male Syndrome, so I can safely assume you either have it or know someone who does.



Irritable Male Syndrome isn’t a male version of PMS, where a guy just has a few “off” days.



It is an almost-everyday issue. Unfortunately, it doesn’t just hurt the guy who’s got it.



Irritable Male Syndrome (IMS) affects his career, quality of life, friendships, and most of all, the relationships with those he loves most.



In fact, some women who live with a husband with IMS feel they are to blame for their husband’s erratic behavior, short temper, and grumpy attitude. Ladies, it’s not your fault.



Though relationship and psychological problems could also cause emotional issues for a guy, the symptoms of Irritable Male Syndrome often have a hormonal cause.



Before delving into the cause of IMS, I first want to cover how it shows up in a man’s life.



Read also: (Grand)Fathers, (Grand)Sons, and Reflections on Turning 41.





Symptoms of Irritable Male Syndrome/Andropause



Do any of the following scenarios sound like you, or someone you know and care about?



You’re crabby and feel like everyone or everything around you is the problem. In fact, you seem to find flaws in everything you see, and you weren’t that way in the past.



You’re a ticking time bomb. Sometimes you’re kind, considerate, and selfless. Other times you are a selfish jerk. You’re especially poopy towards those you love the most. But even in your jerky state, you know that it isn’t the real you. 



You feel depressed. Nothing excites you or motivates you. You don’t feel like you have any “fight” left in you. Even the stuff you used to stand up for, you’d prefer to ignore. 



Your body feels more fragile and looks more flabby. You’ve gotten weak and soft. You don’t need to shave as often, and your moobs (yeah, man boobs)…where did those come from?



The only thing that excites you in your bedroom is going to sleep, and you can’t remember the last time you woke up with an erection…come to think of it, you can’t remember a lot of things. 



This is “real life” for a lot of guys. Unfortunately, most guys don’t say or do anything about it, because if they did, they’d have to admit something is wrong.




The symptoms of emotional disorders among males at [andropause] include moodiness, irritability, nervousness, depression, aggravation, fatigability, poor concentration, deteriorating memory, worse stress management and stress-related coping techniques, new aversion to certain activities that usually were enjoyable, or prolonged mood disorders.
Jakiel G, et al.



What is Irritable Male Syndrome/Andropause?



Irritable Male Syndrome goes by many names: Andropause, male menopause, male climacteric, viropause, androgen deficiency in aging males (ADAM), partial androgen deficiency in aging males (PADAM), symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism (SLOH), and testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS).



There are slight nuances in how each of these conditions is classified. But for the most part, the core problems and symptoms in each are the same.



By the way, I use Irritable Male Syndrome, IMS, and andropause interchangeably throughout this article. It makes it easier to read, and it sounds better than repeatedly reading symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism.



You could also imagine “Grumpy Old Men.” It’s just that you don’t have to be old. And it isn’t always about being grumpy.



Andropause is the result of declining testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). In some cases, the decline is due to age, and in others, it’s the result of poor lifestyle, nutrition, and exercise choices.