What is the menopausal period in men. Male menopausal syndrome: causes, diagnosis and consequences

The term "male menopausal syndrome" (also called andropause and male menopause) is used to refer to a decrease in the production of hormones from the androgen group. In particular, it includes the hormone testosterone.

There are three types of menopausal syndrome in men:

Early(occurs between 40 and 45 years of age).
Common or medium(can develop from 46 to 60 years).
Late(comes after 60 years of age).

In the female body, the rapid decline in sex hormones (progesterone and estradiol) is due to a physiological mechanism that is well known.

Andropause is a condition that can last for more than one year, as a gradual and natural aging process. Traditional medicine or drug treatment will not help from it. You can only alleviate the manifestations of symptoms associated with an age-related condition.

It is worth noting

Although testosterone deficiency may be the cause of male menopause, only 20% of men between the ages of 60 and 80 are testosterone deficient.

A blood test is the only way to diagnose low testosterone levels or dysregulation of testosterone bioavailability. It is carried out after consultation with a urologist.

Symptom complex, which is usually associated with andropause:

Degenerative changes in the testicles, prostate gland and other androgen-dependent organs. Due to a decrease in the level of male hormones, prostate adenoma may occur.
Pyelonephritis and constant urge to urinate in men, as a result of prostate adenoma.
Reduction in bone mass.
Deterioration of metabolic processes.
Violation of the formation of blood components (hematopoiesis).
Decreased libido and decreased reproductive function.
Decrease in mental abilities and psycho-emotional changes (depression).
Angina pectoris may appear.
Myocardial infarction.
Ischemia.

Common signs of menopause in men, age of onset of signs of male menopause

Some doctors believe that the signs of male menopause are most likely the result of non-hormonal causes, such as:

Lifestyle;
alcohol and drug use;
family and financial problems;
stress at work
professional burnout;
sleep apnea.

Characteristic signs of menopause in men include:

Endocrine Disorders: "hot flashes", erectile dysfunction (may occur for other reasons, such as heart and vascular disease or diabetes, especially in people over 60), decreased number of nocturnal erections, increased visceral adipose tissue, dry skin on the face or hands, muscle pain, hair loss.
physical changes: decreased muscle strength, fatigue when running or walking fast, dizziness, palpitations, decreased bone mineral density, resulting in osteoporosis.
sexual changes: many men over 50 complain of a decrease in male libido, a decrease in sexual activity, a deterioration in the quality of orgasm, a decrease in the volume of ejaculate. The quality of erection may decrease. This is due to the decline in testosterone production year after year.
Psychological changes: mood swings, poor concentration, loss of motivation, memory impairment, neglect of personal hygiene, anxiety, depression, irritability and insomnia.

The severity of the various signs of male menopause does not necessarily coincide with each other. Their appearance is uneven, they can appear at 45-47 and at 50 or more years. Sometimes male menopause can be asymptomatic. From start to finish, on average, it takes from 2 to 5 years.

The first signs of menopause in men can appear after the age of 40, since during this period changes in the work of the gonads begin. Changes provoke both the natural aging process of the body and testicular tumors, problems with the “access” of blood to the genital organs, inflammatory diseases of the genital organs, radiation exposure, and surgical castration. After the age of 40, you need to see a urologist every year and tell him about the appearance of any disturbing symptoms.

The need to treat aging associated with the signs of male menopause is controversial, as it does not help everyone.

Treatment of menopause in men and prevention of menopause in men

The development of andropause occurs in all males, usually between the ages of 40 and 55, although it can occur as early as 35 years of age or “last minute” after 65 years of age. It marks the end of the first part of a person's life, and prepares him for the second half of life.

Just as adolescence is a period of gradual "restructuring" of the child's body and the transition to adulthood, andropause is the transition between the first and second periods of adulthood.

Normal testosterone levels in men under the age of 70 are 50 to 224 ng/dl (nanogram of a substance in 1 deciliter of plasma). The lack of this hormone is a common culprit for many physical, psychological and emotional problems, especially in old age.

It is worth noting

Testosterone replacement therapy in early or late menopause in men can reduce unpleasant symptoms such as fatigue and headache. Also, testosterone treatment often improves sex drive.

Typically, testosterone is administered as patches, subcutaneous granules, creams, gels, or intramuscular preparations weekly or weekly for an indefinite period.

In the short term, an increase in testosterone levels in aging men may be characterized by an improvement in lean body mass and cognitive function, but it is unlikely that the attending physician will be able to give an accurate answer to the question of how testosterone will affect the patient's cardiovascular system.

note

Treatment of menopause in men with testosterone has little or no effect on bone density or muscle strength.

While a drop in estradiol levels is a normal process that occurs fairly quickly in all women, usually within one year of menopause, in men, the process of a drop in blood testosterone levels and a decrease in testicular production is slow and with significant individual differences. .

Therefore, hormone therapy is very effective for women taking estrogen, but is often only partially effective for men taking testosterone.

Long-term testosterone treatment can lead to the development of:

gynecomastia;
problems with the liver;
polycythemia;
cardiovascular diseases;
prostate cancer.

The safety and effectiveness of herbal supplements for the treatment of any symptom associated with andropause has not been proven. Therefore, you should not start using them without consulting a urologist. Some additives can even be dangerous. Long-term use of DHEA, for example, has no proven benefit and may increase the risk of prostate cancer.

Psychological counseling may be needed to alleviate the symptoms of an old age crisis (depression and anxiety) that are characteristic during andropause.

If a patient has problems getting and maintaining an erection necessary for intercourse, the doctor may prescribe a phosphodiesterase inhibitor or surgery (penis implant).

A person experiencing signs and symptoms that may be the result of low testosterone levels should consult a physician. A simple confidential conversation with a urologist can help identify menopause in men at an early stage and find the best way to treat the consequences of this condition.

Risk factors for male menopause include:

excessive alcohol consumption;
obesity;
smoking;
poor nutrition;
endocrine diseases.

In order not to suffer from severe manifestations of menopause in men, you can use the following preventive measures:

Eat healthy foods and be physically active in your daily life. This will help maintain strength, energy and muscle mass, improve mood and normalize sleep.
Use yoga training system to manage stress.

Commonality of manifestations menopause in men and women clinically proven. This allows us to consider it in essence a physiological syndrome, due to age-related changes in hormonal and general metabolism, and, above all, age-related extinction of the function of the gonads. In men, it comes later than in women, is less noticeable and merges with signs of old age. With physiological aging, a coordinated restructuring of various levels of regulation of sexual activity occurs, leading to a uniform collapse of all links that ensure sexual function at a relatively stable physiological level, which largely depends on the constitutional characteristics of a person. In case of violation of regulatory mechanisms, a pathological menopause occurs.

PADAM - partial androgen deficiency in aging male

Abroad, instead of the term "menopause", the term PADAM - partial androgen deficiency in aging male ).

Manifestations of pathological menopause ( symptoms) in men are characterized by headaches, dizziness, feeling short of breath, palpitations, pain in the heart area not associated with physical activity, hypertension, shortness of breath, hot flashes to the head, flushing of the face, neck and upper body, depression, suspiciousness, tearfulness , jealousy, increased irritability, fatigue, weakening of memory and attention, a decrease in overall well-being and performance, and potency, an erased orgasm, pollakiuria, a decrease in muscle mass and strength, a decrease in bone density, an increase in the severity of visceral obesity. Insufficient erection with physiological menopause is often combined with difficulty in ejaculation, and with pathological - with premature ejaculation. In older men, there is a decrease in the levels of total and bioavailable testosterone, an increase in the levels of estradiol and sex hormone-binding globulin, an increase in the levels of low density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low density (VLDL), anemia of varying severity.

Sexual disorders in older men

There are two main types of sexual disorders in pathological menopause:

1. Caused mainly by a violation of cortical neurodynamics and manifested by a syndrome of irritable weakness. At the same time, as a result of rapidly onset ejaculation, sexual intercourse cannot be performed in full.

2. Caused by hormonal disorders that contribute to the disorder of erectile and ejaculatory functions. In this case, severe erectile dysfunction () is often observed.

Violations of potency in men in old age (over 60 years)

Sexologists and sexopathologists distinguish three variants of involutional forms of violation potency :

1. Variant of calm extinction (46.0%).

2. Exaltation variant with accelerated ejaculation (33.0%).

3. Agitated-neurasthenic variant (21.0%).

In older men, hypo- and weakening or, a decrease in the number and weakening of spontaneous erections, and blurring of orgasmic sensations are often detected. The spermogram is characterized by a decrease in the number of spermatozoa and their activity. There are also violations of the enzymatic composition of the seminal fluid, a decrease in the content of citric acid and fructose in it. Normally, in healthy men, the ejaculate contains more than 10.0 mmol/l of citric acid, more than 13.0 mmol/l of fructose.

Sexual disorders in old age develop more often in men with a weak sexual constitution and a history of delayed pubertal development.

Diagnosis of pathological menopause in men

Diagnosis of pathological menopause in men is based on the establishment of characteristic complaints, the identification of androgen deficiency and hormonal discoordination, the determination of the levels of gonadotropins and sex hormones in the blood, the study of daily urinary excretion of sex hormones and their metabolites. Analyzes of the secretion of the prostate gland and ejaculate also make it possible to indirectly assess the endocrine status of the organism. Ultrasound examination (ultrasound) of the pelvic organs allows you to assess the condition of the prostate (prostate gland), bladder and seminal vesicles.

To determine the cavernous blood flow, penile rheography, ultrasonic dopplerography, cavernosography, dynamic volumetric and perfusion cavernosometry, studies with local negative pressure, pharmacodynamic tests, intracavernous test, determination of spontaneous nocturnal erection, platysmography of the penis with audio-video stimulation are used. The study of the latent period of the bulbospongiosus reflex characterizes the state of the spinal reproductive centers. Obligatory examination by narrow specialists: therapist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, neuropathologist, urologist, venereologist, psychiatrist, sexologist, reflexologist.

Male menopause treatment, treatment of androgen deficiency in men, treatment of testosterone deficiency in Saratov

Treatment of male menopause should be comprehensive, include etiological, pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy. Sarclinic uses reflexology methods treatment of male menopause, pathological menopause in men (male menopause, partial lack of androgens), various types of sexual disorders in the elderly and senile age. As a result of therapy erection improves , potency is restored , the duration of sexual intercourse is normalized, hormonal activity is activated, spermatogenesis is restored, and neurotic disorders that occur during the course of the disease are corrected.

How to treat male menopause?

The effectiveness of the integrated treatment of male menopause, lack of sex hormones in men , which may include various reflexotherapeutic techniques, reaches 90%. Treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis and individually. All methods are safe.

Do men have menopause? Yes! How it manifests itself, when it comes, when the male menopause begins

At the first consultation, the doctor will tell you what menopause is in men, what are the symptoms of menopause in men, why men have menopause what are the main signs of menopause in men, does menopause occur in men, at what age does menopause occur in men, how is effective treatment of menopause in men in Sarclinic, what are the manifestations of menopause in men, do men really have menopause, how is it manifested when it comes, what are the first signs, when does menopause begin, what methods and drugs help with menopause in men, how does early menopause go and how does it proceed, how to treat male menopause in Saratov, in Russia.

. There are contraindications. Specialist consultation is required.

Photo: Yuri_arcurs | Dreamstime.com \ Dreamstock.ru. The people shown in the photo are models, do not suffer from the diseases described and / or all coincidences are excluded.

By itself, menopause in men, as well as in women, occurs as a result of a decrease, and then a complete absence of the production of a hormone specific to the stronger sex - testosterone. Due to involutive processes in the gonads of the male reproductive system, testosterone begins to be synthesized in smaller quantities. As a rule, this condition occurs after fifty years and less often, in comparison with the female sex, it is accompanied by violations of the general condition. But, there are exceptions to the rule. Some of the men who have experienced the period of andropause, which is the male menopause, experience discomfort associated with a decrease in the hormonal function of the gonads.

Menopause in men: symptoms, age, signs

Male menopause is divided into several age groups. This division is based on the period of life during which these changes began to occur, as well as the degree of manifestation of symptoms.

With menopause in men whose age (symptoms) is 40 years or more, the most striking manifestations of testosterone deficiency are characteristic, such as a decrease in libido, which leads to irritability, lethargy, apathy, and frequent mood swings. Along with a decrease in potency, reproductive function also decreases: the amount of sperm decreases, ejaculation becomes premature, the number and quality of germ cells - spermatozoa decreases. There may also be parallel symptoms associated with impaired urination due to an enlarged prostate. Which also violates the psychological state of a man, and thus further exacerbates the situation with libido. Due to erectile dysfunction, a man feels inferior, which can lead to depression. This age period is called early.

The second stage of menopause is normal, that is, the onset of this process at the age of fifty years, in a timely manner. But what are the symptoms of menopause in men over 50? The age when menopause begins in men, the symptoms may be the same as at the age of forty, but in this life period both increased sweating and blood pressure drops join, especially if there is a concomitant disease of hypertension, which further exacerbates the situation with potency. Frequent headaches, hair loss, decreased skin turgor (elasticity), decreased elasticity of muscle tissue may also occur. Men at this age, against the background of reduced production of testosterone or the absence of its production, begin to gain weight, the outlines of the body structure acquire effeminate features (accumulation of adipose tissue in the abdomen, in the region of the mammary glands). Along with the violation of the muscular frame, the functionality of the musculoskeletal system suffers (difficulties arise in movement in the joints). There are memory problems. Symptoms of menopause in men after 55 years are no different from those at fifty. Therefore, they allocate an age interval, which is ten years, approximately.

Symptoms of menopause in men after 60 years of age only accumulate. If before this age only some of the above manifestations could be present separately from each other, then during this period they are summed up. Of course, it is not necessary to have absolutely all the symptoms, but after 60 years the general condition worsens. May be accompanied by insomnia, lack of desire to physically work.

Menopause in men: symptoms, treatment

Treatment is focused on the restoration of erectile function and the stabilization of the psycho-emotional state. In this case, both hormone replacement therapy with preparations containing testosterone-like substances, and herbal medicine and so on are used. It is important to follow a diet (exclusion of harmful foods), a categorical rejection of smoking, drinking alcohol.

The therapy includes, along with the main treatment, sedative therapy, therapeutic baths, massages, physiotherapy, the use of folk remedies (herbs).

Of course, depending on the causes that led to this condition, the tactics of treatment also depend. Therefore, we will analyze in more detail the causes of the onset of male menopause in the next article.

Causes of menopause in men

One of the most important reasons is the decrease in testosterone production in the body.

The most common causes of menopause in men are:

Congenital anomalies in the development of the reproductive system
Infectious and inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs
Taking hormonal drugs
The influence of elevated temperatures
HIV AIDS
Alcohol abuse, smoking
Injuries in the pelvis and reproductive organs
genetic predisposition
Transferred venereal diseases.

It is from the above reasons that lead to a decrease in hormone synthesis that the age of onset of menopause depends.

The onset of male menopause does not mean the development of impotence. Male menopause means a decrease in fertility, a decrease or complete absence of sexual desire while maintaining an erection.

Age of onset of menopause in men

On average, the male menopause, the age that it covers, manifests itself at forty-five to sixty years. From the age at which menopause occurs, it is divided into early (up to forty-five years), normal (after fifty), and late (after sixty years or more).

The upcoming menopause in men, age depends on a number of factors that determine the time of its onset. The earlier menopause occurs, the more pronounced the symptoms that appear in men, and the more pessimistic the prognosis without appropriate treatment. So, for example, if there is a decrease in testosterone synthesis at the age of forty, then, with untimely treatment, erectile function will rapidly fade, which will lead to psycho-emotional disruptions, and subsequently, may lead to apathy, depression. There have even been cases of suicide attempts.

If the hormonal activity of the sex glands fades away at the age of fifty, and gradually, then the manifestations will be less noticeable for a man. And the functions of the body, which depend on testosterone, will adapt, leveling the lack of this hormone.

Of course, in the case when menopausal manifestations begin to bother after sixty, then it is easier for the body to cope with a decrease in the hormone in the blood. And from a psychological point of view, this fact is perceived more naturally for the man himself.

And yet, male menopause, at what age does it occur? It is necessary to take into account the fact that in fact, almost no one monitors the concentration of testosterone in the blood. Based on this, it becomes difficult to accurately determine the age of menopause in a particular man. Conventionally, this age is determined already by the presence of any complaints at the doctor's appointment by the patient. More often, of course, there are complaints about erectile dysfunction, violation of the act of urination, rapid ejaculation, a decrease in the amount of sperm, and so on. This becomes the starting point in determining the age group and in the choice of treatment tactics.

Therefore, if there is a suspicion of menopause in men, at what age it began, you should find out by contacting a specialist who, in this individual case, will help find the right treatment, especially if menopause is early and the couple is planning a pregnancy.

Treatment of menopause in men

When there are clear manifestations of menopause in men, whatever they may be, they need treatment.

If we are talking about such a manifestation as a decrease in libido, then in this case the main direction in treatment is hormone replacement therapy with testosterone-like drugs. This also includes treatment aimed at general strengthening of the body, reducing irritability, the impact of procedures on improving the functional activity of one's own gonads. Therefore, menopause in men (symptoms) treatment includes sedative therapy, in case of genital infections - antimicrobial therapy, vitamin therapy, and bioadditives are also used. Not the last place is occupied by physiotherapy and massage. All this is used together with the above hormone production.

Diet is considered important in the treatment of menopause, both in women and men. This includes, first of all, giving up bad habits (alcohol, smoking), exclusion from the diet of spicy, spicy, fatty, fried foods.

Also, it is possible to use folk remedies for the diagnosis of menopause in men. In this case, it is recommended to collect fennel, valerian, motherwort and cumin fruits from herbs. It is possible to use hawthorn, mint, succession. All these plants have a sedative effect, including normalizing the work of the vegetative-vascular system and the work of the heart, of course indirectly, that is, not directly. To increase sexual activity, ginseng root or lure root is used, they tone the entire body, and, accordingly, sexual function.

Expert opinion Testosterone replacement therapy in early or late menopause in men can reduce unpleasant symptoms such as fatigue and headache. Also, testosterone treatment often improves sex drive. Treatment of menopause in men with testosterone has little or no effect on bone density or muscle strength.

Male menopause is a natural physiological period in the life of every man; the period is typical for men in the age category from 40 to 60 years. At this stage, due to age-related changes in the body, involutional processes predominate in the reproductive system.

What happens in the body?

The main changes in the male body occur in the hypothalamus-pituitary-testes system. Thanks to the correct operation of this system, a man can lead a normal sexual life. During menopause, there is a decrease in the production of male sex hormones, namely testosterone. This irreversibly leads to hormonal imbalance, changes in metabolic processes, restructuring of the functioning of many organs and systems.

Men who observe the daily routine from a young age, eat right, do not get involved in alcohol and smoking, exercise regularly, tolerate physiological age-related changes in the body much easier and in most cases do not even have a clue what a male menopause is. Men, whose body is weakened due to injuries, diseases, a hectic lifestyle, are quite difficult to tolerate the manifestations of the menopause.

Who is at risk?

For some men, menopause can occur even at the age of 30, the reason for this is the presence of some factors:

various diseases of the genitals of an inflammatory nature;
the presence of circulatory disorders in the genitals;
alcohol consumption and smoking;
signs of male menopause are most pronounced in men who, for whatever reason, have undergone surgical castration;
poisoning with toxic substances;
effects of radiation (radioactive contamination).

In the absence of the above factors, in most cases, men have no idea how the male menopause manifests itself, since the symptoms are almost imperceptible, and the strong half writes them off as a common ailment. But in order to prevent the development of unpleasant symptoms of menopause in time, men need to know the characteristic signs of the disease and carefully monitor their health.

Male menopause: symptoms

Treatment is best started as early as possible, even if the first symptoms do not cause much discomfort.

The first signs of the onset of menopause are reflected in the change in the state of the body as a whole:

increased fatigue, reduced efficiency, lost interest in life;
irritability;
excessive suspiciousness;
dizziness;
sleep disorders;
frequent depression;
increased sweating.

The most common symptoms of male menopause:

violations of cardiac function (arrhythmia, palpitations);
sudden flushes to the head, neck and arms, which are manifested by reddening of the skin in these places;
strong changes in blood pressure, both up and down;
excruciating headaches;
shortness of breath, shortness of breath;
periodically there is a stabbing, aching or pressing pain in the heart, radiating to the left shoulder blade or arm (pain sensations occur at any time of the day, regardless of physical exertion).

Male menopause is characterized by a disorder of sexual function. As a rule, disorders in the reproductive system develop quite slowly, so at the initial stage they may not be noticeable:

accelerated ejaculation;
reduction in the duration of sexual intercourse;
violation of orgasm or its complete absence;
decrease in the amount of ejaculate;
decreased sex drive.

There are several other factors that characterize the male menopause. Symptoms in many men manifest themselves in the form of various urinary disorders:

frequent urination;
decrease in the strength of the urinary stream;
heaviness in the lower abdomen and in the groin.

The time of occurrence of menopause and the severity of its symptoms depend on the lifestyle, the general condition of the body and the degree of activity of the sexual life. Therefore, for a visit to the doctor, you do not need to wait for the appearance of all of the above symptoms.

Diagnosis of menopause in men

Diagnosis consists of a comprehensive examination, which includes:

Ultrasound of the prostate;
detailed blood test;
PSA tests: total and free.

Every man should undergo an examination, especially those at risk, so as not to complicate the male menopause.

Symptoms - treatment: an important relationship

Manifestations of menopause in both men and women will not go away on their own. Therefore, it is necessary to seek the help of a specialist to determine the correct therapy. You also need to understand that each person is individual, therefore, for all representatives of the strong half, the male menopause proceeds differently. Symptoms, treatment are interconnected, since the more pronounced the signs of menopause, the sooner treatment should be started, which, in turn, must be comprehensive: drug therapy, healthy eating, sports and sexual activity, and the patient needs to establish his own Lifestyle.

Many men believe that in order to restore sexual activity, it is necessary to resort to frequent sexual intercourse. But this is an erroneous opinion. The frequency of intercourse does not affect the symptoms of male menopause. On the contrary, doctors recommend during this period of life to have a measured sex life.

Therapy with medicines

Treatment mainly consists of:

hormone replacement therapy;
drugs for the normalization of erectile function;
vitamins to maintain and correct related health problems.

Taking male sex hormones is the main method of treating menopause manifestations. Hormone replacement therapy is prescribed only after an examination, the result of which should rule out prostate cancer. Patients are prescribed testosterone preparations (intramuscular injections of a 5% solution of testosterone-propionate, 1 ml, 2 times a week, 10-12 injections). In most men, the painful manifestations of menopause disappear, and in general the condition of the body improves. After injections, patients are prescribed methyltestosterone tablets (0.005 g 2-3 times a day, courses lasting 20-30 days).

Alcohol consumption and smoking significantly reduce the effectiveness of treatment. It is important for the patient to understand that the menopause is a temporary state of the body and, with the provision of proper treatment, passes without leaving consequences.

Treatment with folk remedies

If it is not possible to see a doctor, and a man is tormented by a male menopause (symptoms), treatment may not only consist in taking medications. There are quite effective folk remedies for eliminating the signs of menopause in men.

Grass shepherd's purse. It is necessary to pour 30 g of grass with 1 cup of boiling water. Leave the decoction to infuse for 1 hour. Then strain and drink half a cup at least 3 times a day.
3 art. l. flowers pour 3 tbsp. raw water. Insist 8-10 hours. Then boil for 5-7 minutes, insulate and leave for 30 minutes. After the time has elapsed, strain and consume in the morning 1 glass of decoction on an empty stomach. Then during the day take after meals.
Hypericum perforatum. 15 g of St. John's wort pour 200 ml of water, boil for 15 minutes. Then wrap and leave to infuse for 45 minutes. Strain and consume 1 tbsp. l. 6 times a day.
Fragrant woodruff helps well during the period. It is necessary to prepare a mixture consisting of: (20 g), (25 g), hawthorn flowers (10 g), motherwort herb (20 g) and cudweed marshmallow (15 g). 1 st. l. mix pour 1 tbsp. boiling water, warm well and leave for 1 hour. Before use, strain and drink 1 tbsp. l. at least 3 times a day.

To restore sexual function help:

ginseng root tincture;
onion;
vitamin E;
celery;
rosemary officinalis.

Alternative methods of treatment can be used only in consultation with the attending physician.

What is dangerous male menopause?

Numerous medical studies have shown that male menopause aggravates the course of coronary heart disease and contributes to the development of a heart attack and cerebrovascular accident, which can lead to a stroke. Also, during menopause, immunity decreases. This factor contributes to the risk of developing multiple myeloma and Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, if you are at the stage when the male menopause begins, treatment should be timely. For this, you should not postpone a visit to the doctor.

How to delay the onset of menopause?

An important role is played by the internal emotional state of a person.

Prevention of menopause

An important role during the onset of the menopause is played by the regulation of sexual life, marital harmony, compliance with the regime of work and rest, proper nutrition, elimination of psycho-traumatic situations and regular dosed physical activity.

It should be noted that preventive measures are not aimed at eliminating menopause, but at eliminating its manifestations.

Male menopause or andropause- a natural biological process that occurs in the body of every man. This phenomenon is characterized by a gradual decrease in the level of male hormones and occurs in most cases at the age of 50-55 years and later. Recently, cases of male menopause have been diagnosed at an earlier age - 40 years.

Types of menopause in men

The aging process is accompanied by functional changes in the whole organism, in particular, the reproductive system. These changes in most cases occur gradually, without complications and are quite natural. In this case, you can call the male menopause normal, natural age-related phenomena.

If, along with the onset of menopause, problems arise with the genitourinary and cardiovascular systems, then there is a pathological type of male menopause. In this case, in addition to physiological problems, a number of mental disorders often arise.

Classification of male menopause by time of occurrence :

early male menopause (appears before the age of 50);
ordinary (appears between the ages of 50 and 60);
late male menopause (appears after age 60).

Symptoms of male menopause

Usually, during the normal course of menopause in men, a gradual decrease in libido is observed, which leads to a biologically determined extinction of the reproductive function.

If the hormonal changes associated with the onset of menopause proceed without complications, then usually most men do not feel additional symptoms.

Unfortunately, in some cases, hormonal changes entail a number of unpleasant, and sometimes painful manifestations.

Possible signs of male menopause:

headache;
hypertension, as well as sudden pressure drops;
arrhythmia;
apathy and increased fatigue;
overweight;
disorders of the genitourinary system;
increased sweating;
shortness of breath;
baldness;
deterioration of memory and attention;
sleep disturbance;
a number of psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, increased irritability.

The course of the process of male menopause is aggravated by a sedentary lifestyle, as well as intoxication of the body by smoking and alcohol.

It should be noted that while maintaining erectile function, gradually,. Men also note a subjective decrease in orgasmic sensations. Premature ejaculation may occur.

In most cases, the male menopause lasts 2-5 years, after which there is a leveling of the hormonal background.

Causes of male menopause

The main reason for menopause in men is an age-related decrease (and not a sharp drop, as in women) in the production of the male sex hormone - testosterone. Moreover, as in the case of female menopause, this process can proceed both absolutely asymptomatically and with pronounced classical symptoms.

With menopause, the interaction between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and testicles is disrupted, which leads to a violation of the hormonal balance of the whole organism and subsequent androgen deficiency.

Causes of menopause, not associated with the aging of the body, may be:

changes in various systems: cardiovascular, genitourinary and central nervous system;
genetic propensity;
infections and inflammation of the genitourinary system;
tumors and injuries of the genital organs.

Of course, adverse environmental factors (radiation, chemical pollution) and bad habits that intoxicate the body (alcohol and smoking) have their influence.

Diagnosis of male menopause

To reduce the intensity of the possible manifestation of symptoms, it is necessary to seek specialized help. To diagnose male menopause, the doctor usually prescribes the following studies:

detailed blood test;
blood tests for prostate specific antigen (PSA) total and free;
ultrasound diagnostics (USD) of the prostate and prostate gland;
electrocardiogram (ECG).

Thus, first of all, you need to contact a urologist or andrologist. Perhaps, for a more detailed examination, consultations of an endocrinologist, cardiologist and other specialists will be necessary.

Treatment of male menopause

To treat and minimize the consequences of menopause, either a drug or non-drug method is chosen.

The most common drug therapy is testosterone replacement therapy, which helps to produce and maintain the desired level of testosterone in the body. Testosterone comes in many forms: tablets, injections, gels, and patches. The amount of testosterone is selected in each individual case and requires constant monitoring and medical correction.

Non-drug therapy includes phyto- and physiotherapy, exercise therapy, massage, psychotherapy, therapeutic baths with various active substances.

It is worth remembering that a complete restoration of childbearing functions is hardly possible. The therapy reduces symptoms and facilitates the process of hormonal changes associated with aging, helping to restore lost sex drive.

Complications of male menopause

Often the biggest fear in menopause. However, impotence and menopause - two different disorders. With impotence, an erection does not occur, sufficient for a full-fledged sexual intercourse. And with menopause, the sexual desire itself decreases or disappears, despite the fact that an erection can be maintained. That is, with a normal erection, the time of sexual intercourse itself is reduced, the volume of ejaculate decreases, ejaculation itself accelerates, orgasm is disturbed.

Consequences of male menopause

Andropause in men can have an early onset before the age of 45 and later - after 60. Early onset is less common: only 8% of men feel the pathological symptoms of age-related testosterone deficiency by the age of 40-50, by the age of 60 this figure increases to 20%.

The following groups of symptoms can be distinguished:

physiological (decreased libido, difficulty achieving orgasm, increased urge to urinate, fatigue and long-lasting weakness, constipation, hot flashes);
emotional (decreased mood background, irritability, depression, restless sleep);
intellectual (memory impairment, decreased ability to perceive and analyze information);
disorders in the work of the cardiovascular system (pressure surges, palpitations, arrhythmia; increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke);
hormonal (violations of proper metabolism, which leads to a decrease in muscle mass and an increase in adipose tissue, and, in the future, can provoke diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis).

Prevention of male menopause

Like any other disease, male menopause is easier to prevent than to treat. Therefore, annual preventive visits to a good urologist and the implementation of his recommendations will help you stay in great shape for a long time.

The male menopause has other names: “andropause”, “testosterone deficiency syndrome”, “age-related androgen deficiency”, which reflect the processes of age-related decrease in androgen production in the body of a man. Since, most often, this disease is age-related, the same measures that delay premature aging of the body are also suitable for its prevention.

This is intense mental activity, maintaining a good physical shape, regular sex life, the presence of healthy habits.

It should be noted that if during the female menopause with the cessation of menstruation, the reproductive function stops, then in men the ability to conceive does not always stop. With a caring attitude to their own health and a proper lifestyle, many men retain the ability and attraction to sexual relations even in their advanced years.