Irritable Male Syndrome
Encyclopedia
Irritable male syndrome (IMS) is defined as a state of hypersensitivity, anxiety, frustration, and anger that occurs in males and is associated with biochemical changes, hormonal fluctuations, stress, and loss of male identity. This term covers symptom
s thought to be caused by a drop in testosterone
levels in male mammals. It is a striking feature in mammals with seasonal breeding patterns at the end of the mating season.
, reindeer
, and Indian elephants.
, defined as symptomatic of hormonal
, physiological, and chemical changes that can occur in all men. These changes are considered to affect physical, psychological, interpersonal, sexual, and nutritional aspects of men's health. Stress
tends to be a common trigger, especially when combined with rapid hormone changes later in life.
, poor diet
, excessive alcohol consumption, illness, lack of sleep, lack of sex, stress or surgery.
, in which scientists noted testosterone levels were highest in the autumn months, which is the period when there is a natural increase in mating activity. In the winter months, hormone levels drop significantly, and the male sheep become nervous and anxious around females, and more aggressive with other males.
Symptom
A symptom is a departure from normal function or feeling which is noticed by a patient, indicating the presence of disease or abnormality...
s thought to be caused by a drop in testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...
levels in male mammals. It is a striking feature in mammals with seasonal breeding patterns at the end of the mating season.
History
Dr. Gerald Lincoln of the Medical Research Council's Human Reproductive Sciences Unit in Edinburgh, Scotland, coined the term after studying the mating cycle of Soay sheep. In autumn, he found that the rams' testosterone levels soared and they mated. In the winter, testosterone levels fell and they lost interest in sex. He also found that as testosterone levels fell, rams became nervous and withdrawn, striking out irrationally. Dr. Lincoln has observed these same changes in behavior in red deerRed Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
, reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
, and Indian elephants.
IMS in humans
In humans, irritable male syndrome is referred to as the andropauseAndropause
Andropause or male menopause, sometimes colloquially called "man-opause" is a name that has been given to a menopause-like condition in aging men...
, defined as symptomatic of hormonal
Hormone
A hormone is a chemical released by a cell or a gland in one part of the body that sends out messages that affect cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. In essence, it is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one...
, physiological, and chemical changes that can occur in all men. These changes are considered to affect physical, psychological, interpersonal, sexual, and nutritional aspects of men's health. Stress
Stress (biology)
Stress is a term in psychology and biology, borrowed from physics and engineering and first used in the biological context in the 1930s, which has in more recent decades become commonly used in popular parlance...
tends to be a common trigger, especially when combined with rapid hormone changes later in life.
Symptoms
Symptoms, in humans and Mr.Kohler, caused by a drop in the male hormone testosterone include:- Anger and social withdrawal
- Irritability
- Hypersensitivity
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Hot flashes
- Lack of libido
- Back and head aches
External causes
External factors that can cause testosterone levels to fall include certain forms of medicationMedication
A pharmaceutical drug, also referred to as medicine, medication or medicament, can be loosely defined as any chemical substance intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease.- Classification :...
, poor diet
Diet (nutrition)
In nutrition, diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism. Dietary habits are the habitual decisions an individual or culture makes when choosing what foods to eat. With the word diet, it is often implied the use of specific intake of nutrition for health or weight-management...
, excessive alcohol consumption, illness, lack of sleep, lack of sex, stress or surgery.
Studies
There have been a number of studies, mostly conducted on animals. One such study was conducted on Soay sheepSoay sheep
The Soay sheep is a primitive breed of domestic sheep descended from a population of feral sheep on the island of Soay in the St. Kilda Archipelago, about from the Western Isles of Scotland...
, in which scientists noted testosterone levels were highest in the autumn months, which is the period when there is a natural increase in mating activity. In the winter months, hormone levels drop significantly, and the male sheep become nervous and anxious around females, and more aggressive with other males.