About Male Menopause

  Most people are aware of female menopause, but a significant number of people are not fully aware that men also have menopause.  So far, the medical profession generally believes that after men reach the age of 50, the secretion of androgen (androgen), especially testosterone (testosterone), decreases, resulting in the gradual decline of their dominant functions. This is called “male menopause syndrome”. In contrast to “female menopause” where the symptoms appear and worsen rapidly due to a sudden drop in estrogen levels like a cliff, “male menopause” is characterized by a gentle decline in androgen levels like a downward slope, resulting in a relatively slow onset of symptoms. Some men experience a decline but remain at the lower limit of normal levels.  The symptoms of male menopause may occur in men between the ages of 40 and 70, and the functional changes caused by declining androgen levels are comprehensive. For example, it can lead to a decrease in the function of multiple systems such as cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, and motor. Psychological and psychiatric symptoms are of greater concern than the decline in function of these systems.  The psychological and psychiatric symptoms of menopause may include the following symptom clusters: 1. Emotional symptom clusters: emotional instability, agitation, impatience, temper tantrums, frequent depression, or diminished interest and depressed mood. There may also be anxiety, terror, loneliness, etc.  2. Cognitive symptom group: memory, thinking power and attention decreases.  3. Behavioral symptom group: reduced initiative and low responsiveness. Decreased sleep. Decreased appetite.  Treatment and response for these symptom groups include: 1, diet and behavior adjustment: pay attention to the reasonable combination of diet and behavior adjustment (such as regular work and rest, appropriate exercise, art appreciation, etc.).  2.Psychotherapy: CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) can be tried for those in need of counseling, and hypnotherapy can be given to those with sleep disorders.  3.Medication: For mood disorders (such as anxiety, depression), medication (such as benzodiazepines and SSRIs) can be considered, and for sleep disorders, benzodiazepines can be used.  4.Chinese medicine treatment: refer to Chinese medicine to identify and classify the symptoms of dirty mania: (1) the type of heart and mind deficiency can be added and reduced with Gan Mai Da Zao Tang; (2) the type of liver depression and spleen deficiency can be added and reduced with Yi Yao San; (3) the type of heart and liver blood deficiency can be added and reduced with Sour Date Soup; (4) the type of Yin deficiency and Yang hyperactivity can be added and reduced with Bai He Di Huang Tang.