Male Menopause Syndrome Q&A

  I. Men with or without menopause syndrome Men with or without menopause, for this issue, researchers in endocrinology, male science and geriatrics have done a lot of work in recent years, but this is still controversial.  There are significant differences between male and female reproductive physiology. After menopause, women’s plasma estrogen levels drop significantly, and there is a clear limit of menopause, and they lose their reproductive capacity. The term male menopause was first used by Werner in 1939 to describe a series of related symptoms that occur in men in their 50s, either simultaneously or sequentially, such as nervousness or depression, easy fatigue, memory loss, poor concentration, insomnia, paroxysmal hot flashes, sweating, decreased sexual desire and erectile dysfunction, etc.  The head of the Department of Physiology at the University of Turku, Finland, Aipo Kantonami, said that he led the research and development of the research. Professor Eppo Kentenhammer, head of the Department of Physiology at the University of Turku in Finland, said that his research team is leading the largest study of male menopausal syndrome in the world. They sent a questionnaire on male menopause syndrome to 30,000 Finnish men aged 40-70. The goal of the researchers was to find biological evidence of male menopause syndrome and to prove the existence of male menopause syndrome.  It is customary to think that men’s menopause syndrome occurs when men age and their bodies become less androgenic and produce symptoms, roughly at the age of 50-55. In fact, there is no time limit for androgen reduction in middle-aged men, and the meaning of menopause syndrome is rather vague, so the name of menopause syndrome is less precise. According to foreign statistics, some symptoms of PADAM occur in about 40% of men aged 40-70 years.  The new view is that although androgens decrease with age in middle-aged and older men, most men still have some androgens in their bodies, so there is no need to stick to the boundaries of time, and it is now called partial androgen deficiency in middle-aged and older men (PADAM), generally at the age of 50-80.  The menopause syndrome in men can be characterized by those manifestations (St. Louis PADAM scale and PADAM scale). The role of androgens (non-sexual functions): 1) stimulate the formation of bones during puberty and maintain the function of bony bones, enhance protein synthesis, and increase muscle mass and strength; 2) strengthen the brain’s thinking process, especially visual and mathematical reasoning; 3) improve hematopoietic function; 4) reduce fat formation. The role of androgens (sexual function): 1) promote the growth and development of sexual organs and maintain their functions; 2) promote spermatogenesis and growth; 3) display secondary sexual characteristics; 4) drive and maintain sexual desire; 5) promote and help accomplish various sexual functions.  The symptoms of PADAM are many and complex, and it is known as “a thousand people with a thousand faces”.  (a) St. Louis PADAM Questionnaire The Louis PADAM questionnaire consists of ten questions: 1) Have you recently experienced a decrease in sexual desire? 2) Have you recently felt confused? 3) Do you feel weak and have difficulty concentrating? 4) Is your height getting shorter? 5) Do you feel bored and lose confidence in your current life? 6) Have you become sentimental and short-tempered? 7) Is your erection as strong as when you were young? Do you notice a decline in your athletic ability? 9. have you been performing poorly at work lately? 10. are you always drowsy after meals?  If you answer yes to three or more of the above ten questions, you should preferably see an experienced male physician.  (2) Men’s menopause symptom scale, including three aspects: 1) physical problems (seven problems: general weakness, difficulty sleeping, lack of appetite, bone and joint pain, hot flashes, sweating, palpitations); 2) psychosomatic symptoms (five problems: forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, unexplained panic, irritability, loss of interest in things you like); 3) sexual function problems (four problems: loss of interest in sex); 4 problems: loss of interest in sex. Four problems: loss of interest in sex, no response to sexy things, no more sleep penile erection, and unsuccessful sexual intercourse); the symptom items are scored in total by the frequency of symptoms (always, often, occasionally, none) to determine the possible existence of male menopausal syndrome. Therefore, with partial androgen deficiency, one should see a doctor for treatment,physical symptoms + vasodilatory symptoms ≥ 5, or psychosomatic symptoms ≥ 4, or sexual symptoms ≥ 8, physical symptoms + vasodilatory symptoms ≥ 5, or psychosomatic symptoms ≥ 4, or sexual symptoms ≥ 8. IV. How to judge and treat male menopausal syndrome Generally speaking, with the above symptoms, along with androgen levels The diagnosis of male menopause syndrome can be made when there is a decrease in androgen levels. However, because these symptoms are not specific, they can exist in some diseases that affect the general condition of men’s body and can also affect the secretion of testicular androgens, so it is necessary to make a differential diagnosis.  The first thing to do to improve the symptoms is to strengthen physical exercise, maintain a calm and optimistic mood, and develop good habits. The care and understanding of family members and colleagues is also important. Chinese medical theory has certain insights into this disorder, and according to different subtypes, corresponding treatments are chosen to regulate it, such as nourishing the liver and nourishing the kidneys. Supplementation of androgens, it is generally believed that the presence of PADAM symptoms can be supplemented with testosterone.  V. Men’s menopause syndrome has those problems should be paid attention to Male menopause syndrome appears vasodilatory symptoms such as hot flashes, sweating, coupled with physical symptoms such as weakness, appetite and weight loss, to be distinguished from some common chronic wasting diseases, so special attention needs to be paid to somatic diseases that may also have similar manifestations in addition to cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, malignant tumors, etc.  For example, when prolactinoma occurs in the pituitary gland, impotence is often the main manifestation, with or without headache and changes in vision and visual field. Unexplained pain in bones and joints is often the first symptom in patients with certain tumors. Many medications used in daily life to treat stomach problems, hypertension, and psychiatric disorders can be the cause of penile erection malfunction. Therefore, before using any medication, you should check with your doctor about the various adverse effects of the medication so that you don’t suffer an innocent injury for no reason.