At the same approximate age that male menopause can come knocking at the door, we may also experience a couple of other uninvited guests, namely reduced sperm production and a tendency toward an enlarged prostate.

First, it may well be that at this point in your life your kids have grown up and moved away, and you're definitely not interested in fathering any more children. But that isn't the only aspect of sperm production you should consider. That is because your sperm's health is often a gauge of your overall heath. So sperm production isn't only about making babies.

Second, think about the prostate. It's the gland that produces and stores your seminal fluid, which is the medium that transports your sperm. If you've ever had the misfortune to suffer inflammation of the prostate, probably caused by a bacterial infection, you have experienced firsthand the central location of this gland.

Third, let's consider male menopause, a condition that is often related to a lowered level of testosterone. The symptoms are often displayed as depression, lack of sexual drive, even impotence.

Have you noticed how all three of the subjects we're discussing seem to be located in the same vicinity? Sperm, prostate, and male menopause are different, yet connected, functions that may become problematic during middle age.

It would be wise for us to begin with the fundamentals in this equation. Have you ever heard about BPH? That stands for Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, better known as an enlarged prostate. If you've ever experienced this it may well be that the medicine prescribed to address the condition had side effects that you would have preferred avoiding, namely impotence and loss of libido. There are alternatives to the usual prescription medicines that your doctor may recommend to avoid the side effects like saw palmetto extract. It's available as a pill or capsule and is convenient to take.

Other herbs are becoming more common in the treatment of many of these disorders. You may already be familiar with the supplement ginseng, used for thousands of years in Asia to address the issue of male endurance and health. Yohimbe is also becoming more widely-used, but there are cautions to be exercised with this herb, so you should ask your doctor about it or visit a professional herbalist for advice.

We also find that many of the lifestyle changes that are beneficial when treating one of these conditions will then help with the others as well. If you stop smoking cigarettes, for instance, this will be of immense relief to your cardiovascular system. What does your cardiovascular system do? Well, achieving and maintaining an erection is directly related to the arterial blood flow in the penis, and the cardiovascular system is the one that delivers the needed blood to the penis, so be kind to your cardiovascular system and it will be kind to you.

Just remember that although early signs of prostate problems, lowered sperm production, or male menopause may be initially troubling, it doesn't mean that it's time to throw in the "being a man" towel.

It just means that it's time to go see the doctor.