Male menopause - menopause in men - is also called andropause. In this age-related condition, there is a decrease in testosterone levels, so men's libido decreases and sexual performance deteriorates.
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Male menopause is the most common term for andropause. It describes age-related changes in male hormone levels. This same group of symptoms is also known as testosterone deficiency, androgen deficiency and late-onset hypogonadism.
Causes and timing of andropause
The content of the article
Male menopause involves a decrease in testosterone production in men aged 50 years and older. The condition is often associated with hypogonadism - testicular failure, accompanied by low levels of sex hormones and clinical manifestations characteristic of organic testicular pathology.
Testosterone in men is produced in the testicles. It is this hormone that determines sexual activity. It also stimulates changes during puberty, influences mental and physical energy, maintains muscle mass, regulates the ability to act courageously (fearlessness, temper) and other key evolutionary characteristics.
A man's testosterone level changes several times during his life: before puberty it is low, then the concentration of the hormone gradually increases. Signs of normal male development:
- muscle mass growth;
- body hair growth;
- decrease in voice timbre;
- increased sexuality.
With age, testosterone levels begin to decline. According to scientific research, the level of this hormone decreases by an average of 1% per year after 30 years. Some pathologies can lead to an early or sharp decrease in testosterone concentration - in this case, early male menopause occurs.
Diagnostics at Expert Clinics
At Expert Clinics in Moscow, we begin the program for restoring men's health with diagnostics, solving the problem with which the man came. For example, his libido decreases, his erection decreases, and he also complains of depressed mood and depression.
First of all, such a patient undergoes a full check-up of the body and undergoes tests. First, saliva and urine are collected to study hormone metabolites.
This way, the clinic’s doctors can understand which chain hormones are broken down and assess the state of hormonal function. Not only sex hormones - testosterone, progesterone and estrogen - but also adrenal and thyroid hormones. Metabolites of hormones, which are often more active than the hormones themselves, should also be assessed.
It is also very important to evaluate the first and second phases of detox in a man in order to understand whether any breakdowns have occurred in the detoxification processes, and what exactly is not removed from the body.
Adipose tissue is of enormous importance for men's health. And today there are also opportunities to evaluate markers of metabolic activity of adipose tissue.
Adipose tissue is a substrate for keeping blood vessels and nerves in good shape, and for inhibiting brain aging, because the brain is a fat-containing organ. And if some patients need to increase their fat layer, then others, due to individual indicators, are recommended to be as thin as possible and not accumulate fat.
Also, much attention is paid to the condition and volume of muscle mass. It is extremely important for representatives of the stronger sex to have a good muscular frame. When a man plays sports, muscles produce growth factor, which stimulates good tissue repair and regeneration.
If a reduction in muscle mass has begun, this is an alarming sign, especially when muscles are replaced by fatty tissue. Indeed, as a result, metabolism is distorted, which leads to rapid aging, deterioration of brain function, memory and vision, and apathy.
Also, much attention in diagnostics at Expert Clinics is paid to intestinal function; for this purpose, a genetic analysis of stool for microbiota is performed. The intestine, as one of the immunocompetent organs, affects immunity, detox and absorption of nutrients. Therefore, it is so important to restore the intestinal microflora.
Diagnosis of men's health may also include testing for the presence of heavy metals and other toxic components that inhibit tissue regeneration and repair. The condition of the membrane walls, on which the ability to obtain nutrients depends, is also assessed. To do this, a drop of blood is taken from each earlobe.
Symptoms of menopause in men
Decreased levels of the hormone testosterone, which makes a man a man, cause many physical, sexual and psychological problems. For example, it can lead to age-related depression, decreased muscle mass, increased body fat, and erectile dysfunction.
The main symptoms of andropause:
- low energy;
- depression, bad mood, despondency;
- decreased motivation for action and self-confidence;
- difficulty concentrating;
- insomnia, poor sleep;
- increase in fat in the abdominal area;
- decreased muscle mass and feeling of physical weakness;
- gynecomastia - enlargement of the mammary glands;
- decreased bone density;
- erectile disfunction;
- deterioration of libido;
- infertility.
In addition, a man may notice swelling of the breasts, a decrease in the size of the testicles, loss of body hair, outbursts of scandalousness or causeless discontent. Low testosterone levels associated with male menopause are also strongly associated with osteoporosis. This is a condition in which the bones become weak and brittle. These symptoms are rare and are felt at the same age as women entering menopause - 50-55 years.
Behavior of a man during menopause
Age-related androgen deficiency in a man can manifest itself as a complex of physical symptoms:
- decreased libido;
- erectile dysfunction;
- problems with the prostate - adenoma or prostatitis;
- changes in blood pressure;
- increased fatigue, loss of muscle mass.
Not all men notice physical changes. But for many, a decrease in the production of sex hormones affects behavior and emotional well-being:
- mood swings, depression, depression, bad mood, emotional fatigue and apathy, insomnia may be observed;
- vegetative-vascular disorders - changes in blood pressure, sweating, dizziness, hot flashes;
- some men become irritable and aggressive, behave demonstratively, and quarrel with loved ones.
Menopause is a natural, but not the easiest period in a man’s life. During adolescence, a hormonal storm affects the behavior of adolescents, the same thing happens when sexual functions begin to fade. Following internal changes come external ones. A man may worry about approaching old age and feel a decrease in sexual function. Psychological problems can be aggravated by erectile dysfunction. Because of this, a man can behave unusually and aggressively. Some become too active - they begin to dress brightly, engage in extreme sports, go to clubs and change sexual partners - this is how the fear of old age and the desire to prolong youth manifest themselves.
Diagnosis of male menopause
It is easy to detect testosterone levels - just take a blood test for testosterone. If the deviations are not large, you don’t have to worry and continue monitoring your health. With a further decrease in hormone levels, the urologist will prescribe simple treatment.
As a rule of thumb, the biggest barrier to treating male menopause may be talking to your doctor about your symptoms. The doctor should ask too intimate questions regarding his personal life, which many men are embarrassed to answer.
How to relieve menopause symptoms
A healthy lifestyle, balanced nutrition, taking vitamins and physical activity will help smooth out the symptoms of menopause and improve your emotional background. Regular sex life will help maintain prostate health. But if the symptoms of menopause worsen a man's quality of life, he may be advised to take testosterone.
If you want to preserve your men's health for as long as possible, contact Dr. AkNer, here you will be given a high-quality examination and all existing problems will be identified.
Urologist, andrologist Akopyan Nerses Grigorievich.
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Treatment of andropause
These symptoms can be relieved. The urologist recommends lifestyle changes, mild antidepressants, and hormonal therapy to replenish the missing testosterone.
First of all, of course, you will need to switch to a healthy lifestyle: you will have to switch to a normal diet, increase the number of walks, get enough sleep and be minimally nervous. If you cannot cope with depression, your doctor will prescribe relaxation medications.
The most effective way to treat male menopause is hormone replacement therapy. This technique is used in all European countries. Based on the test results, the doctor calculates the missing amount of testosterone and prescribes a synthetic analogue.
Before hormone replacement therapy, you need to undergo a number of additional tests and studies, since the technique has contraindications. In particular, testosterone is contraindicated in prostate cancer, as it causes cell growth and rapid replacement.
You will need to go through:
- Ultrasound of male organs - ultrasound of the prostate, ultrasound of the testicles;
- Ultrasound of the pelvis;
- Smear for infections;
- Blood test for tumor markers.
Hormone therapy for men
It is much easier to regulate the hormonal status of the male body than the female body, and this is good news for representatives of the stronger half of humanity. However, while women have long been accustomed to the idea that they need maintenance therapy during the premenopausal period, men are extremely wary of such an idea.
At Expert Clinics, we pay special attention to treating men and have developed the most comfortable methods for them. We prescribe strictly individually selected medications to patients, containing hormones in very small dosages.
Our advantage is that we adhere to the French school of endocrinology and work in accordance with biological circadian rhythms. That is, we take into account the hormone release curve: which of them are released in the evening and which in the morning. The drug intake program is developed individually for each man, and during the process of hormonal therapy, we make sure to study the dynamics of the metabolites that are produced when these hormones are broken down.
After leveling out the production of hormones, complete oncoprotection (protection against cancer) is launched, and the man’s prostate gland stops enlarging.
And soon after the start of therapy, the man notices that his erection, libido, and sexual function have been restored, which is also extremely important for self-esteem. Men regain confidence, sleep is restored - and a whole new world opens up for them.
Where is male menopause treated in St. Petersburg, prices
Such conditions require a special approach, so it is better to be treated in a private clinic. For example, such services in St. Petersburg are offered by the specialized clinic Diana. An experienced urologist works here, you can take tests for hormones and infections, take a spermogram, undergo a comprehensive ultrasound and other diagnostics.
The cost of treatment and examination is low: an appointment with a Urologist will cost 1000 rubles, a comprehensive ultrasound of the pelvis on a new machine with Doppler will cost 1000 rubles, a consultation based on the results of the examination costs only 500 rubles.
What is the best way to start solving the problem of MC?
The problem of male menopause is extremely complex and requires a doctor to have deep and comprehensive knowledge of not only urology and andrology, but also endocrinology and a number of other disciplines. Sometimes diagnosis and treatment of urticaria requires the participation of not only a urologist-andrologist, but also other specialists (cardiologist, endocrinologist, neurologist, etc.). Therefore, the problem of MC can be most effectively solved with the help of a comprehensive program, which provides for a detailed initial examination and regular follow-up with the involvement of all necessary specialists. These measures are absolutely necessary to achieve maximum effectiveness of treatment and minimize its possible side effects. The Andros clinic has created a special program that allows you to effectively solve the problem of urticaria. This program has undergone serious scientific research and is compiled on the basis of the latest practical and literary data. By joining our program, you can increase your performance, improve your mood, restore vitality and sexual energy, restore a feeling of youth and prolong your active creative life.
Testosterone is not to blame
The problems of male aging are not only related to the topic of sex. But most often, a man begins to worry about his health when he notices that with age his sexual desire decreases and erectile dysfunction makes itself felt for the first time, says Ekaterina Gergesova, a clinical laboratory diagnostics doctor and consultant at the online medical laboratory Lab4U.
The second most common complaint is increased fatigue: a person seems to have much less strength and energy, and has a feeling of chronic fatigue. This is accompanied by a decrease in concentration, deterioration of memory and cognitive functions. At this time, the man begins to get annoyed that decisions that were previously easy for him now require significant mental effort. All this causes changes in the emotional sphere - for example, insomnia. At the same time, a depressed mood and loss of pleasure even from those activities that previously brought joy often become signs of incipient depression.
Changes also occur in a man’s physical condition: strength and endurance decrease, muscle volume decreases, and weight gain begins. As a rule, this is caused by low physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle, coupled with poor nutrition. But men often blame low testosterone for everything and try to find the cause in “male menopause” or “male menopause,” although neither concept exists in medicine.
Folk remedies
Male menopausal syndrome can be corrected using herbal remedies. To relax and eliminate insomnia, andrologists recommend taking baths with extracts of valerian and pine needles before bed.
This is important : among the stronger sex, who are faced with menopause, there is an opinion about the magical properties of tincture of ginseng and leuzea. They say they improve potency, restore male strength and confidence, and comprehensively rejuvenate the body. These antioxidant biostimulants are good as adjuncts. But excessive consumption of ginseng tincture provokes hypertension.
To safely improve a man’s well-being during menopause, nutritionists recommend reviewing the diet. Include more walnuts, honey, and celery in your daily menu. Taking pollen, royal jelly and beebread has a positive effect on hormonal levels and general well-being. These substances contain many antioxidants, vitamins and phytohormones, which have properties similar to male sex hormones.
Male menopause is not a verdict. This is another natural period that should be experienced calmly and easily with the help of the right diet and an optimistic attitude.
There is no such thing
Men do not and cannot have menopause, experts say. Menopause is a condition that develops in a woman and is manifested by the physiological cessation of menstruation. The reason for this is that the ovaries stop working at a certain age.
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The period of gradual decline of reproductive function in women lasts from one to five years and occurs in several stages, which end with a complete cessation of the production of female sex hormones.
In men, the process of cessation of reproductive function occurs completely differently and the term “menopause” does not apply to them, Gergesova is sure. By age 60, Leydig cells, which are located in the testes, gradually reduce testosterone production. No stages in this process are distinguished, and it is impossible to say that it can be completely completed by a certain age. In addition, while women during the reproductive period are protected from the development of certain chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis, due to high levels of estrogen, men do not have such protection. “In women, estrogen protection disappears with the onset of menopause, and then all these diseases appear,” explains Gergesova. - In men, such ailments simply manifest themselves much more clearly in old age. What makes the situation worse is that men are more likely than women to engage in bad habits.”
Chronophotography. Naked man running, 1887
Photo: Eadweard Muybridge
Difficulty losing weight
One way to reduce the impact of andropause is to lose excess weight. This is possible with the help of a training regimen and diet, but both of these methods are difficult to put into practice in adulthood. Some doctors advise reducing stress, limiting sugar intake, eating a healthier diet, and taking zinc supplements. However, before starting any such program, one should consult a doctor, especially if the person is suffering from any serious medical conditions.
Smoking, alcohol and stress
At the same time, men themselves often begin to suspect that the reason for their deteriorating health is an age-related decrease in testosterone levels, experts note. But in fact, most often problems in sexual life are the result of an unhealthy lifestyle: smoking, alcohol, poor diet, stress, as well as heart disease or diabetes.
In men with diabetes and other metabolic, neurological, cardiovascular disorders, erectile dysfunction occurs three times more often than in others, notes Karen Mkrtchyan, urologist, chief physician of the 3rd clinical department of the Academician Roitberg Clinic and member of the Russian Society of Oncourologists. With hypertension, testosterone levels, sperm count and motility decrease, he explains.
Infectious diseases also have a negative impact on erection. And not only those that are sexually transmitted. There are already studies showing that the male reproductive system may be vulnerable to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. And the more severe the disease, the more serious the consequences can be. Difficult working conditions also affect men's health - constant contact with chemicals, petroleum products and other harmful factors leads to diseases of the genitourinary system and changes in hormonal levels.
Chronophotography. Half-naked man on a horse. 1887
Photo: Eadweard Muybridge
