DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Do men go through menopause? My interior body temperature is normal, but my exterior body temperature is hot. I saw an endocrinologist, and all my tests were normal. I suggested to my doctor that I cut back on my AndroGel. Nothing happened. I feel warm or hot all the time. Do you have any suggestions? – T.F.

ANSWER: Andropause is a word coined to denote the male equivalent of a woman’s menopause. There are major differences between andropause and menopause. A woman’s supply of estrogen falls rapidly at the time of menopause. A man’s supply of testosterone slowly ebbs with age. After age 40, male testosterone decreases by about 1 percent per year. After age 70, the drop accelerates somewhat.

A drop in testosterone can lead to a decrease in sexual desire, a lessening of the ability to achieve an erection, depression, osteoporosis, muscle shrinkage and sleep disturbances. Some of those consequences match what happens to women, but women have them in greater degree than men, and men develop them more slowly.

As for your “exterior” warmth (I take you to mean you feel your skin is hot), it might be that circulation to your skin has shifted into a higher gear. Diverting blood from the body’s interior to the skin is a major way of dissipating body heat. AndroGel is replacement testosterone. It can cause dilation of surface blood vessels and sweating, so it might be the answer to your problem. The only way to know for sure is to stop it and see. Get your doctor’s permission before experimenting. It could take a week or two to notice any change.

If that isn’t the answer, then I don’t have an explanation. Since you’re healthy in all other respects, you could deal with this warm sensation the way women cope with hot flashes. Dress in layers and shed the outer layers as you warm up. Keep ice water near you at all times, and sip it frequently.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com