Health

Have I got ‘male PMT’?

I find that I get moody or depressed at certain times for no real reason. My girlfriend says this is a form of ‘male PMT’. Does such a thing exist and can I stop it from happening?
Ben Craig, by email

Dr Rob Hicks, GP replies: There is a theory that some men suffer from a condition called ‘irritable male syndrome’, which is related to falls in levels of testosterone caused by stress. The idea emerged when Scottish researchers noted that Soay sheep and other animals became withdrawn and irritable when their testosterone levels dropped. The researchers suggested a similar thing may happen in men but it’s unclear if this is a real medical condition or not.
When men suffer mood swings and feel grumpy, clinical depression is often the underlying cause, particularly if low mood or disturbed sleep is also a problem. With this in mind it’s worth consulting your GP to establish whether counselling or antidepressants may be appropriate.
Stress, too much alcohol, a lack of exercise, poor diet and recreational drug use can all cause the symptoms you describe. Tryptophan (found in bananas), omega 3 fatty acids (found in salmon) and B vitamins (found in nuts, seeds and Marmite) can all help to lift your mood so make sure you’re getting enough of these in your diet or from a supplement. Exercise is another great mood booster and it’s proven to be effective in keeping stress under control.