Final answer:
Male hormonal changes associated with aging typically result in a decrease in sexual functioning due to reduced testosterone levels, leading to symptoms like fatigue, reduced muscle mass, and lowered fertility.
Step-by-step explanation:
Effects of Aging on Male Hormonal Changes
Male hormonal changes associated with aging can lead to a number of significant physical and psychological alterations. One substantial change is a decrease in sexual functioning. This is attributed to the decline in Leydig cell activity, which commonly begins between ages 40 and 50, leading to reduced levels of circulating testosterone. Symptoms often associated with these hormonal changes include feelings of fatigue, reduced muscle mass, depression, anxiety, irritability, loss of libido, and insomnia. Furthermore, hormonal changes can lead to a reduction in spermatogenesis, resulting in lowered fertility, and potentially contribute to sexual dysfunction.
In contrast to these declines, aging in men does not lead to an increase in fertility, an enhancement of muscle mass and physical performance, or a heightened sense of well-being. In fact, some physiological and social constructions of aging may medicalize the decrease in male sexual performance or depict the aging male body as genderless, thus affecting societal perceptions and the individual's own sense of masculinity.