Do men have menopause?

Everyone knows that women will experience symptoms such as irritability, amenorrhea, and insomnia during menopause. In the past, people always believed that men did not have menopause because men did not have the obvious characteristics of amenorrhea like women. However, at the European Andrology Conference held in 1994, the term "male menopause" was proposed and widely recognized by the academic community. So do men have menopause?

Male menopause is mainly caused by the decrease of testosterone in the male body, so it is also called "partial androgen deficiency in middle-aged and elderly men". After the age of 30, the testosterone in the male body decreases by 1% to 2% each year. After the age of 50, the testosterone level in the male body is only half of that before the age of 30. At the age of 70, the testosterone level in the male body is only 10% of the hormone level of 25-year-old men. According to statistics, nearly 40% of men over the age of 40 are troubled by menopause, which lasts for several years or as short as a few months.

After the decline of androgen, there is no "sexual interest" and depression. Testosterone is the most important androgen in the male body, which is mainly secreted by the testicles. When men enter menopause, testosterone disappears quietly. Testosterone deficiency not only affects sperm production and sexual function, but also causes hair loss in middle-aged and elderly people, muscle relaxation and fatigue, and bad mood.

Experts say that if you are over 40 and have the following symptoms at the same time, along with a drop in testosterone levels, it means you have entered menopause:

(1) Sexual dysfunction symptoms: decreased libido, decreased erection quality, premature ejaculation, testicular atrophy, etc.

(2) Psychiatric symptoms: depression, sadness, pessimism, loss of enthusiasm for life, as well as mental tension, fear, anxiety, and suspicion.

(3) Neurological symptoms: cold limbs, numbness and pain, tinnitus, sweating, and general fatigue.

The symptoms of male menopause are relatively hidden, and clinical underdiagnosis is very serious. Many men think that the decline in physical strength and sexual desire is due to stress and fatigue. Mental workers are at high risk of "early menopause". A concerning phenomenon is that male menopause tends to occur earlier. Mental workers who are under great pressure and mentally tense for a long time, such as white-collar workers and corporate executives, are likely to become a high-risk group for early male menopause, and may enter menopause at the age of 30.

Menopause is a normal physiological change after people enter middle age. Men's menopause comes later than women, mostly between 50 and 60 years old. Patients with menopausal syndrome do not need treatment if they are mild, but those with severe symptoms need to be treated with hormones and other drugs under the guidance of a doctor. In the case of drug treatment, supplemented with food regulation, it can often achieve twice the result with half the effort. For those with mild symptoms, simply using food regulation can achieve very good results.

Key points of dietary therapy for men's menopause:

1. Weight gain is caused by metabolic disorders in the body, so you should eat more foods rich in protein, calcium and vitamins, and reduce foods high in sugar. The method is mainly to eat fresh vegetables, supplemented by chicken, fish, rabbit meat, etc. Milk and beans not only contain calcium and protein needed for menopause, but also contain various trace elements necessary for the human body, so they can be eaten regularly.

2. The diet structure should be based on the principles of low salt, light food, and moderate combination of meat and vegetables.

3. Don’t overeat at dinner. The proportion of the three meals a day can be 35%, 35% and 30% of the calories for breakfast, lunch and dinner respectively. Avoid overeating.

4. Honey contains various nutrients and can moisturize the intestines and stool. Although it contains a lot of sugar, proper honey water can also reduce the intake of other high-calorie foods. It also has the functions of "moistening, relieving and detoxifying", which often has more benefits than disadvantages. Therefore, drinking about a tablespoon of honey water every day for body regulation is a better choice.

5. Avoid spicy, dry, hot and other irritating foods.

In summary, men do go through menopause, and will experience obvious symptoms in their mental, nervous and sexual functions. Men don't need to worry, following the above dietary therapy will improve these symptoms, and may even have better results.