Menopause (translated from Latin as “stage”) in a woman is physiological changes in her body that occur in the hormonal system, leading to a gradual decrease and disappearance of menstrual and childbearing functions. It usually starts at the age of 45-50 and lasts for 5-7 years.
In this period, perimenopause is distinguished - a gradual decrease in the level of sex hormones and the appearance of the first menstrual disorders and other symptoms of menopause, menopause - a significant decrease in hormonal levels and the cessation of menstruation, and postmenopause - the complete extinction of menopause symptoms and their disappearance.
There are physiological and pathological menopause. If during physiological menopause, changes in the hormonal background (primarily estrogen and progesterone) are felt slightly and proceed more gently, then with pathological menopause, the effect of hormone deficiency on the body of a woman is more noticeable and pronounced. At the same time, some symptoms (hot flashes, mood changes, itching and tingling of the skin, tachycardia, sweating) may soon disappear after menopause, while others (dryness and atrophy of the vagina, flabbiness of the skin, memory impairment, urination disorders) may persist after the onset of menopause. The first manifestation of menopause is menstrual disorders, which may be the only symptom in 20% of women. Menstruation may be delayed for several weeks, become less abundant, sometimes accompanied by periods of uterine bleeding. Gradually, the intervals between cycles increase, and over time, menstruation stops altogether. Soon, symptoms of menopause from other organs and systems (gynecological disorders, skin, vascular, musculoskeletal changes) join, neuropsychiatric disorders also occur (sleep disturbances, irritability, deterioration of sleep, mood).
Menopause occurs earlier in women who smoke and those who have undergone hysterectomy (due to poor blood supply to the ovaries). But in women with a removed uterus and preserved ovaries, menopause may not occur for a long time, because. hormone-producing function of the ovaries is preserved. An earlier onset of menopause was observed in women whose female relatives also had menopause early.
Menopause in a man (andropause) is the same physiological changes in the function of the gonads, leading to changes in hormonal levels, the functioning of a number of organs and systems, reducing the quality of life. Studies show that the hormonal background (testosterone level) in men begins to decline after 30 years by 1-3% per year. Upon reaching the age of 40, this process can accelerate, and by the age of 70-80, the level of sex hormones can be half the physiological norm necessary to maintain sexual and reproductive function. Menopause usually starts between the ages of 50 and 60.
Male menopause is due to the general aging of the body, but there are reasons that lead to its early onset:
- toxic effects of various substances (primarily smoking, alcoholism);
- radioactive exposure;
- circulatory disorders in the testicles;
- benign and malignant testicular tumors;
- inflammation of the reproductive system (orchitis, orchiepididymitis, epididymitis);
- surgical castration.
If menstruation and the ability to bear children stop during the female menopause, then during the male menopause the testicles do not stop functioning, there is only a decrease in the level of testosterone secretion, and the reproductive function in men is preserved until old age or death.
Because the decrease in hormone levels in men occurs gradually, some researchers do not agree with the term "andropause" and use the definition of partial androgen deficiency.
With the onset of male menopause, significant restructuring of the work of many body systems occurs. The greatest deviations occur in the reproductive apparatus (primarily the testicles), leading to changes in the hormonal background. The connection between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and testicles, which are responsible for the production of steroids - male sex hormones, is disrupted.
Testosterone is the main sex hormone that regulates the functioning of the testes, appendages, prostate, and seminal vesicles. In addition, it stimulates spermatogenesis, determines libido, intensity of orgasm and sexual arousal.
Decrease in testosterone levels negatively affects the function of the sexual, hormonal and central nervous systems. In this regard, male menopause causes not only changes in the hormonal background, the genitourinary systems, but also in the psycho-emotional sphere.
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