Menopause is an age-related issue that occurs in both women and men. In women, there may sometimes be clear physical signs, but men may not have such obvious changes, which can lead to forgetting that certain behaviors or symptoms originate from male menopause.
Testosterone, important for men
As men age, the male hormone testosterone decreases and continues to decline around the age of 50, known as the “menopause period”. Besides age, behavioral changes in men can also indicate the onset of male menopause. Generally, when testosterone levels drop, men in this stage tend to be easily irritated, have poor emotional control, get angry quickly, experience mood swings, lack confidence, and start to gain belly fat. Testosterone is an important hormone for men, and its decline affects four main areas of the body, including
1. Brain which may result in poorer memory than before
2. Bones and muscles causing muscles and bones to be less strong. Some people exercise intensely to build muscle but do not see the expected results
3. Blood sugar levels Testosterone is related to lowering blood sugar levels by improving sugar response to insulin
4. Sexual function Most people know testosterone is related to sexual function, but as mentioned above, testosterone also supports bones, muscles, memory, and blood sugar levels
Therefore, the questions doctors ask about sexual matters do not only reflect sexual issues but also indicate the functioning of other areas mentioned above.
Diagnosis in anti-aging medicine Doctors will consider history taking to assess
(1) Emotional aspects such as feeling life is bleak, lack of desire to do activities, irritability, indecisiveness, and low self-esteem
(2) Physical condition assessment such as a sad-looking face, weak muscles, lack of vitality, and
(3) Laboratory test results which often show elevated blood sugar, decreased bone mass, and overall weak muscles
Treatment approach includes adjusting male hormones, which can be done by injection or topical application, along with balancing other aspects. This ensures targeted testosterone supplementation for effective treatment using certain vitamins and minerals to help increase testosterone production while minimizing side effects such as hair thinning. After treatment, most cases with testosterone injections are followed up for about 3 months to observe improvements in irritability, mood swings, depression, feeling refreshed after exercise, and increased desire to engage in activities.
Comprehensive care
When administering testosterone, anti-aging doctors must thoroughly examine the patient’s body and hormone levels to avoid adverse effects. Although research indicates testosterone is not a factor that triggers prostate cancer, if a man has latent cells prone to prostate cancer and receives increased testosterone, it may accelerate cancer development. Therefore, doctors refer patients diagnosed for testosterone treatment to a urology specialist for ultrasound to check prostate size, prostate cancer markers, and family history of prostate cancer genetics before concluding testosterone treatment.
Every time men receive treatment for menopause issues with an anti-aging doctor, you can be confident that you will receive thorough, comprehensive, and precise care. Don’t let your menopause problems affect your work anymore.
Dr. Kobkulya Jungprasertsri
Director of Premier Life Center, Phyathai 2 Hospital
