Men also have menopause? It can last for 20 years...

Menopause is something that many people are familiar with. Some people have seen advertisements on TV about menopause since they were young. As we all know, women will experience menopause when they reach a certain age. During this period, they may experience many changes in their body and mind. For example, they may feel tired easily, have mood swings, etc.

In many people's traditional cognition, the physiological stage of "menopause" is regarded as a phenomenon unique to women, but as "male menopause" is frequently mentioned on the Internet, many friends have also paid attention to the issue of "male menopause". Today we will study:

Do men also have menopause?

What causes male menopause?

What are the symptoms of male menopause?

01 Do men also have menopause?

Menopause , a key link in the natural transition from middle age to old age, does not only occur in women.

The male menopause process begins around the age of 40 to 45 and continues until the age of 60 to 65 or even longer.

During this period, most men will inevitably be affected, and the degree will vary slightly depending on individual differences.

According to existing research and statistics, about 40% of men between the ages of 40 and 70 experience a gradual decline in hormone levels during menopause, and some men will not even show very obvious menopausal symptoms throughout their lives.

Simply put, men will eventually face menopausal problems, but not all of them will suffer from menopausal syndrome .

02 Complex male menopause syndrome

Male menopause syndrome is generally referred to in the medical community as late-onset male hypogonadism (LOH).

Its pathogenic mechanism is quite complex, and the partial deficiency of male hormones is recognized to be one of the key causes of the disease to a certain extent.

In the male body, about 95% of male hormones are produced and secreted by the testicles, the gonadal organ (the main component of which is testosterone), and the other small part of testosterone comes from the secretion of another important gland in the body, the adrenal gland.

In comparison, female menopause is often caused by the progressive decline of ovarian function, which brings about a " cliff-like " sharp drop in estrogen, leading to the occurrence of related menopausal symptoms.

However, it is worth noting that the decline in male testosterone is not as rapid and intense as female menopause. Instead, it shows a gradual downward trend, like walking on a downhill road.

Therefore, unlike women, the clinical manifestations of male menopausal syndrome are often relatively vague and even somewhat hidden, making the development of the disease a gradual and slow process.

According to data released by the World Health Organization, the male hormone level in men will gradually decrease starting at the age of 30 , with an average annual decline rate of about 1%-2%.

The study covered a large number of samples aged between 25 and 70, and found that when men reached the age of 70, the level of male hormones in their bodies was only about 10% of that of a 25-year-old young man.

Looking further, in the age range of 40 to 90 years old, the testosterone levels in men decrease by an average of about 1% to 2% each year, and the total decline can be as high as 30% to 50%.

03 What are the symptoms of male menopause?

Male menopause syndrome is a combination of clinical symptoms, which is caused by the gradual decrease in testosterone levels or even loss of function , especially closely related to the significant decrease in the level of bioavailable testosterone in the body.

Male menopause syndrome is usually divided into several categories based on symptoms, including decreased physical function , decreased sexual function , increased potential risk of cardiovascular disease , mood swings , anxiety , etc.

Male menopause syndrome is a progressive , chronic disease process that requires patients to persist in facing it actively for a long time in order to successfully and safely pass through this stage.

1. Increase physical exercise appropriately

It is recommended that everyone increase daily physical exercise as much as possible according to their own specific circumstances.

It is recommended to follow the " three three three principle " when exercising, that is, to do aerobic exercise more than three times a week, each exercise lasting more than 30 minutes , and the heart rate reaching 130 beats/minute after each exercise.

Physical exercise not only consumes calories, burns fat and reduces weight, but also helps deliver oxygen to various tissues and organs throughout the body.

To a certain extent, it helps to improve microcirculation , increase metabolic levels , and effectively prevent and treat male menopausal syndrome.

2. Get enough sleep

Sleep problems have a serious negative impact on the quality of life of the middle-aged and elderly population, and may even cause or aggravate certain diseases.
For patients with male menopause, it is recommended that they try to ensure at least six hours of sleep every night.

Only after a deep sleep state can the testosterone levels in their bodies resume regular changes and reach their peak in the early morning.

3. Healthy diet guidance

Pay attention to the reasonable combination of meat and vegetarian dishes in daily diet.

It is recommended to use lighter cooking methods to prepare food, appropriately increase the intake of meat , and try to avoid over-reliance on certain types of food or having a serious preference for certain types of food.

At the same time, it is recommended that everyone try to reduce or avoid eating foods containing a lot of spicy and irritating ingredients in order to effectively control their weight, and try to quit unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking .