Do male hormones decline after the age of 30? Top 10 symptoms of male menopause! Doctors reveal 1 trick to help androgen synthesis
Feeling irritable and losing energy? Symptoms and Assessment of Male Menopause
After the age of 40, not only does physical strength decline, but also emotional instability and sleep problems occur. Should we be careful that “male menopause” is coming early? Dr. Liu Pengchi from the Family Medicine Department of Shin Kong Hospital pointed out in an interview that male hormones peak at the age of 30, and then decrease at a rate of about 1% per year. After the age of 40, it is more likely to decrease by 1-3% per year. Unlike women, male menopause can be judged from the menstrual cycle. Physical symptoms are mostly used as indicators of suspicion, and blood tests are used to test hormonal values to evaluate whether there are other organic or metabolic disease problems.
Dr. Liu Pengchi said that the “St. Louis University Low Testosterone in Aging Men” questionnaire is mostly used in clinical practice to help patients evaluate whether they have menopausal problems. One type is related to sexual desire performance, including whether there is decreased sexual desire and less strong erectile function; the other type is It is related to mental endurance, such as fatigue, decreased physical strength, and reduced sense of fun in life. In addition, poor work performance, easy dozing after meals, poor exercise ability, easy depression, irritability, anxiety, and emotional instability may all be symptoms of male menopause.
“Most of the menopausal patients who come to the family medicine department are different from those in the urology department. Patients often complain of physical, emotional, and sleep problems. Other factors must be considered at the same time to help patients make a complete assessment!”
Dr. Liu Pengchi explained that if more than 3 of the 10 indicators in the questionnaire appear in the past month, it is necessary to suspect whether there is a male menopause problem. Also assess whether there are metabolic diseases such as diabetes, which may affect muscle endurance and vascular sclerosis. Whether you have bad habits such as smoking, drinking, eating betel nut, etc. that may affect your cardiopulmonary function. Indicators such as thyroid disease and anemia levels will also be tested. If the above examinations are all within the normal range, androgen testing will be considered to confirm whether there is a male hormone deficiency, and treatment methods will be discussed with the patient.
Do I need to take medicine for hormone deficiency? Male menopause treatment and tracking
Once a male hormone deficiency is detected, does it need to be treated with medication? Dr. Liu Pengchi said that if the test result of male hormone is significantly lower than 300ng/dl, empirical medicine has proved that hormone supplementation for this group of people has a more significant effect. If the hormone is between 300-350 or the value is close to the standard lower limit, moderate supplementation can also be taken in the short term to help the symptoms significantly improve. However, for safety reasons, prostate cancer-related indicators should be tracked regularly during hormone supplementation.
However, many people still have doubts about interventional hormonal drugs. Dr. Liu Pengchi explained that when low hormones are detected for the first time, male hormones can be supplemented for a short period of 3-6 months, and diet and exercise habits can be adjusted. After the androgen rebounds, , after the symptoms are significantly improved, continuous medication is not necessarily required. You can also adjust your lifestyle and use auxiliary medication to treat symptoms, such as improving mood and insomnia. It is recommended to discuss appropriate treatment with your physician first.
Dr. Liu Pengchi pointed out that the physical strength and sexual performance issues that middle-aged men are most concerned about are not necessarily related to hormones. Hormone supplementation, combined with good habits and increased exercise, have the opportunity to gradually replace drugs and reduce dependence on exogenous male hormones. However, when using any combination of drugs, you should comply with your doctor’s instructions and track relevant values regularly.
Exercise increases muscle and stimulates androgens! What nutrients should be supplemented during menopause?
Dr. Liu Pengchi said that male hormones not only affect the maintenance of muscle mass and fat distribution, but are also related to the promotion of sexual desire and energy activity. In terms of dietary nutrition, it is recommended to properly absorb nutrients related to male hormone synthesis, including trace elements zinc, selenium, and protein. Vegetarians are advised to consume plant-based protein and healthy oils through nuts.
Studies have found that weight training is helpful in stimulating the synthesis of muscles and androgens. Men who lack training are more likely to face the problem of accelerated hormonal decline. Therefore, men should maintain sufficient muscle mass and minimize the occurrence of “sarcopenia”, which is also a way to maintain male hormones. important key.
Dr. Liu Pengchi pointed out that the proportion of male hormone deficiency in Taiwanese men over 50 years old is as high as 10-20%, and the proportion is even higher as age increases. Past studies in Taiwan have shown that 30% of men aged 40-80 years old, the life cycle of men after they enter middle age , are more likely to be affected by hormones and aggravate other health problems, such as smoking and diabetes, and male menopause will aggravate sexual dysfunction; if you encounter a midlife crisis or emotional problems during this period, male menopause will aggravate emotional irritability and emotional instability. , it is recommended that Taiwanese men pay more attention to physical changes and seek medical consultation as early as possible if they have symptoms related to menopause.
Is male menopause difficult to avoid? Precautions for different age groups
The vast majority of men will go through menopause. Dr. Liu Pengchi suggests that the proportion of obvious androgen deficiency symptoms around the age of 40 is relatively low. You can refer to the menopausal questionnaire. If most of the symptoms in the questionnaire range from absent to absent, you may wish to seek medical advice first. Further examination. In addition, we should pay attention to our living habits, adjust smoking, drinking and abnormal work and rest, and find out early whether there are three highs (hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia) and organic diseases.
People aged 50-60 are at higher risk of male menopause. The average age of menopause for women is 51.5 years old. Men during this period should pay more attention to regular health check-ups and understand the need for medical treatment. If male hormone deficiency is confirmed, they should consult with Physicians discuss whether medical intervention is needed.
Men over 65 years old or even 70-80 years old have relatively less sexual needs, but their mood, physical fitness, and sleep may be affected by hormones, making them unable to perform daily activities and workplace activities. You can discuss the pros and cons of medication with your doctor and conduct a personalized assessment. What’s more important is regular follow-up, such as blood tests for PSA and prostate ultrasound, to control the risks associated with prostate cancer.
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