How does menopause occur in men, what treatment recommendations can we use to prevent premature menopause, what changes should we make in our lifestyle to solve this problem, in the following, we will provide you with the necessary guidance.
Menopause causes almost the same symptoms as menopause in women. The term male menopause actually characterizes age-related hormonal changes that gradually appear in all men.
A decline in testosterone levels associated with aging causes the symptoms of male menopause or andropause. With increasing age, in addition to the decrease in blood testosterone, the sensitivity of tissues to testosterone also decreases. A long-term decrease in blood testosterone has adverse effects on bone, muscle, brain, and blood lipids.
The decrease in blood testosterone level in men starts at about 30 years of age and after that, blood testosterone level decreases by one percent almost every year. In 7% of men aged 40-60, and 70% of men aged 70-79, the level of testosterone in the blood will be lower than the minimum in young people. For men, especially those with a poor diet and low physical activity, male menopause is associated with decreased sexual function, energy levels, mood changes, muscle loss, decreased muscle strength, fatigue, irritability, and often hot flashes.
Unlike women, the onset of menopause in men is unpredictable and gradual, and this causes delay in the diagnosis and treatment of such men.
Andropause can affect men earlier than the age of 40: depending on a number of factors, including diet, activity level, genetics, testosterone, etc., male menopause symptoms may appear even before the age of 40.
Testosterone decreases with age: As the male body ages, the level of testosterone gradually begins to decrease continuously and in the beginning it may not have any specific symptoms. From the age of 30 onwards, the amount of this hormone decreases by one percent every year, and in men of the age of 70, its amount has decreased by almost 50 percent.
The risk of arteriosclerosis is higher in those with andropause: the important issue is that in middle-aged men, when the level of testosterone in the blood decreases, the risk of arteriosclerosis, which is a precursor to heart attack and stroke, increases. In fact, male hormone is a protective factor against atherosclerosis. Some factors are involved in reducing blood testosterone levels, such as alcohol abuse, obesity, diabetes, and the use of certain medications. Diagnosing menopause in men can be difficult, because all the symptoms do not appear at once and the onset of symptoms is gradual and the intensity of the symptoms varies.
Menopause affects the quality of sleep: one of the common symptoms of andropause in men is insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, and generally disruption of the sleep-wake cycle. Some men also complain of low energy levels and fatigue during the day.
Andropause with unexplained depression: One way to diagnose andropause is unexplained emotional changes. For example, a decrease in testosterone levels can lead to severe depression and even memory loss. Many men also experience a decline in self-confidence as a mid-life crisis.
Weight gain and andropause: Sudden weight gain or an increase in body fat are other signs of andropause, because the loss of testosterone leads to the loss of muscle mass and bones in men and women.
Andropause is associated with forgetfulness: forgetfulness can be caused by reasons such as stress and preoccupation, but along with symptoms such as fatigue and decreased libido, it indicates the emergence of andropause.
Tips to delay symptoms
In order for male menopause to be milder and its severity to be delayed, a healthy lifestyle should be followed. Smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of movement, overweight, consumption of unhealthy foods, mental and physical diseases such as blood pressure and diabetes, use of neuroleptics and psychoactive drugs gradually decrease the male hormone and cause premature menopause in men.
The best treatment for male menopause is prevention, and all men should increase their quality of life, especially after the age of 40; exercise, eat healthy foods and control underlying diseases such as diabetes and blood pressure.
When there is a disorder in the secretory path of testosterone, the patient’s problem can be solved by replacing hormones, but when a man is diagnosed with menopause and the level of testosterone hormone is low, the best thing is to start treatment. Treatment is usually with testosterone hormone injections. Of course, testosterone is also available in the form of gels or tablets, which must be taken with the advice of a doctor.
There are also ways to increase blood testosterone levels:
Weight Loss
enough sleep
daily exercise
Quit smoking and alcohol
Taking zinc supplements: Zinc reduces the activity of an enzyme called aromatase, which is responsible for converting testosterone into estrogen. Zinc is also found in foods such as oilseeds, liver, and seafood.
Increase consumption of vegetables, fish oil or omega 3 tablets, folic acid, B complex vitamins, eggs and wheat germ.
Stress management and reducing consumption of tea, coffee, soy and red meat.
The sound of health
Source: activebeat
