The concept of male menopause was first proposed in 1939, because researchers found that some men over the age of 50 can have clinical symptoms similar to female climacteric syndrome, such as neurological disorders, depression, memory loss, inattention, and fatigue. Insomnia, hot flashes, sweating and sexual dysfunction, etc., with the deepening of the understanding of the disease, now the professional doctor's mouth, male delayed hypogonadism (LOH) is the more appropriate name for this disease, but For non-professionals, it is clear that male menopausal syndrome is easier to understand.

Q: Why do men get "menopausal syndrome"?

In the final analysis, this is caused by male aging. The pathological basis is the low level of serum testosterone (T) and the reduced sensitivity of tissues and organs to androgens.

The secretion of testosterone is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. Ageing and aging can cause the function or abnormality of this axis to decrease or decrease the secretion of testosterone or the circadian rhythm of testosterone secretion. Secretion of Leydig cells is the main source of testosterone. As you age, as the teeth will gradually fall off, the number of interstitial cells will gradually decrease, the secretion function will decrease, and testosterone will be insufficient. Androgen needs to bind to its receptors in order to function normally. As the body ages, the level and sensitivity of androgen receptors will decrease. Even if there are sufficient androgens, they cannot be used because of the lack of receptors. The role it should have. Testosterone is divided into free testosterone and testosterone (albumin-binding T and sex hormone globulin-binding T), and testosterone that can be used by the human body is free testosterone and albumin-bound testosterone. According to the study, the proportion of sex hormone globulin-binding testosterone in older men is higher than that of young men. Thus, although the total testosterone level does not decrease, the available fraction is reduced, and the symptoms of androgen deficiency are also exhibited. Many common acute and chronic diseases, drugs, etc. can interfere with the production of testosterone, and accelerate the rate of decline in androgen levels in middle-aged and elderly men. It is also the cause of this disease.

Q: Do men have "menopausal syndrome"?

LOH occurs in men between the ages of 40 and 60 and is a manifestation of male aging. According to the survey, the incidence rate is 10% to 30% among men over 40 years old, and the higher the age, the higher the incidence rate. But this is not a necessary manifestation of aging and aging in every male. The androgen levels of many middle-aged men do not drop significantly and are still within the normal range. Moreover, due to individual differences, the tolerance to disease is also different, so even if the level of androgen is decreased, it can still have no clinical manifestations. For example, some people are panting when they run 200 meters, and some people still do not change their color after running 1000 meters.

Q: How do you know if you have a "menopausal syndrome"?

1. Sexual dysfunction. The most common manifestations of patients with LOH are loss of libido and decreased sexual activity, often with difficulty in penile erection, decreased stiffness, and erection.

2. Osteoporosis, obesity and muscle mass reduction. The incidence of fractures in LOH patients will increase, and there will be a concentric obesity (big belly) and decreased muscle strength.

3. Emotional and cognitive problems. Depression, depression, and irritability are often seen; they are accompanied by decreased energy, memory loss, and insomnia.

4. Metabolic syndrome. Patients with LOH often present with metabolic syndromes such as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, abnormal glucose metabolism, and insulin resistance.

5. Some patients may also have hot flashes, sweating, dizziness, breast development and anemia. Friends who have these above performances should be more vigilant. They can go to the local hospital for more professional examinations to see if the hormone levels in the body have changed.

Prone to the crowd

1. Men who work and live under pressure.

2. Men with chronic diseases (such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, depression, etc.).

3. Men who have a bad life (such as smoking, drinking, etc.).

4. Men in harsh living conditions.

5. Men who lack exercise.

6. Abdominal obese men.

Therefore, male friends who want to stay away from menopausal syndrome should avoid these behaviors and states and develop good habits. For men diagnosed and with obvious clinical manifestations, in addition to routine treatment, the family members of the patients should also be fully understood and cared for. Everyday, while we advocate caring for women, don't forget that these tough guys also need care.

The article is from the public micro-signal of Dr. Sun Jie

Author: Huang Pei