As men enter their 40s, they notice a significant drop in vitality. This is a natural phenomenon due to aging. However, if you are depressed and have no motivation in your daily life, you may suspect a “male menopause”.
1 in 3 middle-aged men are in “male menopause”
According to data from the National Health Insurance Corporation, 27.4% of men in their forties and 31.2% of men in their fifties in Korea fall into male menopause. Symptoms vary from person to person, but problems with sexual function occur first in most cases. The resulting psychological atrophy significantly reduces the quality of life. One study found that men with low blood testosterone levels were three times more likely to develop depression and had a 33% higher risk of death. This causes a decrease in the quality of life in interpersonal and social life in general.
Male menopause ㅣ Source: Getty Images Bank
“It’s important to have some time for yourself.”
Yunseok Kim, Hidak Mental Health Department Advisor, Director (Seoul Haleun Psychiatry)
It is easy to think that middle-aged men between 40 and 50 will be emotionally stable because they have established a certain place in society. However, the social belief that men should only display a strong image and the burden of taking responsibility for their family can lead to extreme stress.
If you can’t afford to take care of your heart, psychological symptoms of male menopause such as chronic fatigue, irritability, deep emotional ups and downs, headaches, palpitations, choking, lethargy and anxiety can accompany you. Since there is no room for these depressed feelings or feelings to be expressed, if you drink alcohol before bed or smoke regularly, your symptoms can worsen.
It’s easy to overlook a temporary sensation, but it doesn’t happen overnight. It is important to recognize that male menopausal depression is a disease and to actively address it. To overcome the midlife crisis, James Hollis, a Jungian psychoanalyst in Washington, USA, said: “First, you need to realize that you are responsible for your psychological well-being and you need to focus your life on personal growth. I do,” he He says. It’s important to accept that you may be in male menopause and have some time for yourself, even if it’s only a few hours a week.
Male Hormone Replacement Therapy ㅣ Source: Clip Art Korea
“Male menopause, treatments can improve the quality of life”
Hidak Urology Consulting Doctor Sang-Kwon Byeon (Yonsei S Urology Clinic)
It’s easy to think of menopause as a symptom that mostly occurs in women whose hormone levels drop dramatically after menopause. However, men can experience menopausal symptoms as testosterone levels decline with age. However, unlike women, testosterone levels in men gradually drop and most of them don’t go to the hospital because they think it’s a symptom of aging.
Male menopause is diagnosed when a man over the age of 50 complains of various symptoms of menopause such as decreased libido, decreased sexual function, erectile dysfunction, increased body fat, hair loss, fatigue, lethargy and depression, and testosterone levels are less than 3.5 ng / ml.
During male menopause, adequate sleep, regular exercise and a balanced diet are very important. In addition, it is necessary to reduce stress, improve lifestyle habits such as drinking and smoking, and take dietary supplements such as vitamin D, zinc and magnesium which promote the secretion of male hormones.
Male menopause treatments available in the hospital include testosterone-containing ointments, patches, and injections. Ointments and patches do not require a constant visit to the hospital, but they have a short duration and can cause side effects such as skin irritation and hypersensitivity reactions. On the other hand, injections are the most commonly used treatment because they have a clear therapeutic effect and few side effects. However, male hormone replacement therapy affects the liver, blood vessels and prostate, so you need to consult a doctor before deciding whether to treat it or not. During treatment, check for side effects through periodic examinations.
Help = Counseling Doctor Hidak Yunseok Kim (Mental Health Department Specialist, Seoul Haleun Mental Health Department), Counseling Doctor Hidak Sangkwon Byun Sang-gwon (Urology Specialist at Yonsei S Urology Clinic)
