Can Men Also Menopause?

Medical Video: Can Men Go Through Menopause?

Like women, men are also said to experience menopause. This is because before the age of the late 40s to the early 50s, some men can experience similar symptoms as when women experience menopause. But is this really a symptom of male menopause, or is it caused by something else?

Symptoms of "menopause" experienced by men from the end of their 40s

Some of the symptoms that are often suspected of menopause include:

Decreased sexual arousal and function.
Erectile dysfunction, impotence, and difficulty maintaining an erection.
Sudden and irritable mood changes.
Reduced muscle mass and decreased ability to do physical activity or exercise.
Dry skin and excessive sweating.
The distribution of fat is more directed at the stomach and chest, causing a distended stomach or the appearance of 'male breasts'.
Loss of energy and enthusiasm.
Difficulty sleeping like insomnia.
Very tired easily.
Reduced ability to concentrate and decreased short-term memory ability.

Does menopause really exist?

Compared to using the term menopause in men, health experts often use the terms andropause, testosterone deficiency, androgen deficiency, or hypognadism. All of these designations refer to reduced hormones which play a role primarily in male sexual function. The use of the word 'menopause' is considered to cause a misunderstanding because menopause in men is not always caused by a decrease in the number of certain hormones as occurs in female menopause.

Differences in menopause in men with menopause in women

Menopause in men is actually not the same as menopause in women. If in menopausal women caused by a decrease in the hormone estrogen, menopause in men is not always caused by a decrease in the hormone testosterone. Although the hormone testosterone will decrease with age, but the decline tends to be stable from year to year, which is only about 1-2% per year when the age of men ranges from 30-40 years.

Menopause in men also does not necessarily cause full sexual organ dysfunction, unlike women who are unable to get pregnant again after menopause. And the basic thing that distinguishes menopause in women with menopause in men is not all men will experience it, while women when they reach a certain age will definitely experience menopause.

Menopausal causes in men

Unlike menopause in women which is purely caused by a reduced number of certain hormones, menopause in men can be caused by various things. The main thing is that the decrease in testosterone levels has gradually decreased since men turned 30. But other factors such as lifestyle, psychological problems, to midlife crisis (midlife crisis) also plays a role in the occurrence of menopause in men. Menopausal symptoms are also more likely to occur in men who have heart problems, suffer from obesity, hypertension, or have type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Menopause in men is also compounded by lifestyle factors. For example, a bad diet can cause fat accumulation in the stomach, one of the symptoms that appears in male menopause. Psychological problems such as financial problems, divorce, and worries about old days can also be causes of menopausal symptoms. Besides that, the decrease in life enthusiasm and enthusiasm can be due to midlife crisis, a situation where men feel they have reached middle age and begin to question what they have achieved so far. Midlife crisis sustained ones can cause depression later in life.

Psychological problems midlife crisis this is not impossible to cause emergencesymptoms of insomnia, sudden mood changes excessive nervous fibers which are all symptoms of menopause in men. Young habits such as irregular sleep patterns, lack of exercise, drinking too much alcohol, and smoking are also factors that support the emergence of other symptoms in male menopause.

How to diagnose menopause in men?

If you feel the symptoms mentioned above and suspect the possibility of menopause, you can see a doctor. You may be asked what symptoms you feel, how your daily lifestyle is, and how your medical history has been. Don't be shy to mention the symptoms you are experiencing. If a decrease in testosterone levels is suspected, a blood test may be needed to check your testosterone levels.

Can menopause in men be prevented and treated?

As explained earlier, the cause of menopause in men is not just a decrease in hormone levels alone. Health and lifestyle factors also affect the appearance of menopausal symptoms so that changes in lifestyle get better can reduce menopausal symptoms. Some ways you can do are:

Have a healthy diet.
Exercise regularly.
Get enough sleep.
Reducing stress.

These steps not only can prevent menopause in men but can also reduce menopausal symptoms that have arisen. In addition to lifestyle changes, doctors may also recommend hormone therapy as a solution. But this is still a controversy because synthetic testosterone can have adverse effects on health such as increasing the risk of prostate cancer.