“It’s not laziness, but hormones” – a urologist on how to recognize male menopause and return the taste to life

Everyone knows about female menopause, but men rarely talk. In the nuances of this delicate process and ways to preserve male power, the correspondent of the Minsk-Novosti agency, together with urologist Anna Sushinskaya, understood.

Soft graph of nature

The term “male menopause” does exist, but in official medicine it is called andropause, or age-related hypogonadism. As A. Sushinskaya explains, this condition is fundamentally different from female menopause.

- The main difference is how this process proceeds, at what rate hormone levels decrease and how much it affects reproductive function, the doctor notes.

Women have a limited supply of eggs from birth, and when it is completely exhausted, reproductive function fades. In men, the production of sex hormones and sperm goes continuously throughout life. With age, the speed of the testicles - those same paired male glands, as well as the pituitary gland, which are responsible for the production of the main hormone testosterone, simply decreases.

The first age-related changes in the male body begin quite early. A gradual decrease in testosterone production starts after 30-35 years.

- From this age, the level of total testosterone drops by an average of 1% per year, and biologically active - by about 1.2%, emphasizes Sushinskaya.

However, hormonal decline does not mean instant loss of fertility. If women menopause occurs, as a rule, in the range of 45 to 55 years and puts an end to the issue of childbearing, then men do not have a fixed age to complete reproductive function. Sperm production fades extremely slowly, and many retain the ability to become a father even in old age.

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What accelerates male menopause

However, andropause is often accompanied by unpleasant symptoms. Among them is a decrease in libido, chronic fatigue, irritability, weight gain and a noticeable decrease in muscle mass. At the same time, the speed of such changes depends more on the lifestyle of a particular person.

The main catalyst is excess weight. As the doctor explains, adipose tissue contains a special enzyme - aromatase, which actively converts testosterone into female sex hormones estrogens. The larger the waist volume of a man, the faster the level of the main hormone falls. No less harmful is physical inactivity - the lack of physical activity literally signals to the body that a high level of testosterone does not need it. Alcohol and smoking are also toxic. To medical accelerators of the process, the specialist includes chronic diseases - diabetes of the second type, metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis and hypertension, which worsen the blood supply to organs. Constant stress also plays a negative role, because high levels of cortisol directly block the synthesis of testosterone.

Hormone Games and the Midlife Crisis

Mood swings in men during andropause are a rattling mixture of testosterone deficiency and accumulated stress. The main male hormone affects not only libido and muscles, but also the brain. When it becomes less, a man begins to sleep poorly and loses strength. This undermines his stress resistance and provokes sudden outbreaks of irritability.

“The period of andropause almost always coincides with the crisis of middle age,” the doctor notes. A man becomes acutely aware of the running of time, analyzes the goals achieved, faces career limitations and physical markers of aging. The result is a vicious circle - emotional experiences provoke the release of cortisol, and it begins to actively suppress the production of the main male hormone. Often harsh, rash actions during this period are a subconscious rebellion against aging.

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How appearance changes

Hormonal shift inevitably affects the appearance of the stronger sex. When testosterone is not enough, the body begins to intensively store fat at the waist - so the notorious "beer" tummy appears. At the same time, dangerous visceral fat is deposited, which is located deep in the abdominal cavity and envelops internal organs. In addition, the body produces less collagen, so the skin dries and loses freshness, and bald spots may appear on the head.

Ageless paternity and treatment of delicate problem

Theoretically, a man retains the ability to become a father to old age, since the production of germ cells is continuous. However, the doctor warns that it is not safe to postpone paternity over the age of 40-50 years.

- Over the years, the quality of genetic material in sperm deteriorates, which increases the risks both during conception and for the health of the unborn child, notes A. Sushinskaya.

The doctor emphasizes that difficulties in the intimate sphere during andropause should not become a cause for despair. Such violations are successfully treated, so you do not need to put up with them.

According to Sushinskaya, treatment is selected individually and usually begins with lifestyle correction. In some cases, it helps to increase free testosterone levels by 20-25% without medication. If this is not enough, proven medicine is connected - PDE-5 inhibitors to improve blood filling of tissues or hormone replacement therapy. The doctor clarifies that hormone therapy is prescribed only with a testosterone deficiency confirmed by tests. Drugs can be in the form of gels, patches or injections. At the same time, the specialist recalls that taking testosterone without a doctor's prescription is categorically unacceptable, since self-medication carries a direct threat to health.

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The formula of protection and tactics of the wise wife

Caring for the preservation of male power is necessary long before the onset of tangible symptoms. To maintain a normal level of hormones, it is important to regularly struggle with excess weight, give muscles a strength load and get enough sleep, because about 70% of testosterone is produced during the deep phases of night sleep. The diet should include healthy fats - eggs, fatty fish, nuts, olive and butter, as well as control the level of vitamin D, zinc and magnesium. After forty years, an annual check-up should become a mandatory rule, including checking the level of testosterone, blood sugar, blood vessels, conducting an ultrasound of the prostate gland and taking a PSA test (prostatic specific antigen).

Family support plays an important role in this period. As A. Sushinskaya emphasizes, a wise wife with a decline in intimate activity should in no case broadcast resentment or look for a reason in herself. It is much more correct to shift the focus to emotional intimacy, tactility, show gentle initiative and emphasize the authority of the husband.

- You do not need to send a man to doctors with reproaches, it is much more effective to offer to undergo an examination together under the guise of planned health care, as well as quietly adjust the home diet and organize joint active rest, the specialist summarizes.