男性更年期

男性更年期：子虚乌有？还是现实存在！ Male menopause: Myth or reality? 　　男性经绝期：子虚乌有？还是现实存在！ Aging-related hormone changes in men — sometimes called male menopause — are different from those in women. Understand signs, symptoms and treatment options. 　　随着年龄的增长，男性体内荷尔蒙的改变与女性的不同，这有时被称之为男性经绝期。本文将有助于你了解男性更年期的征兆、症状以及治疗方法。 By Mayo Clinic staff 　　作者：梅奥诊所员工 Hormone changes are a natural part of aging. Unlike the more dramatic reproductive hormone plunge that occurs in women during menopause, however, sex hormone changes in men occur gradually — over a period of many years. Here's what to expect, and what you can do about it. 　　随着人体衰老，体内荷尔蒙水平发生改变不足为奇。然而，与更年期妇女体内生殖激素急骤下降不同的是，男性体内性激素的变化是一个缓慢的过程，长达多年。下面介绍一下男性经绝期的一些症状和应对方法。 Debunking the male menopause myth   　　揭开男性经绝期的神秘面纱 The term "male menopause" is sometimes used to describe decreasing testosterone levels or a reduction in the bioavailability of testosterone related to aging. Female menopause and so-called male menopause are two different situations, however. In women, ovulation ends and hormone production plummets during a relatively short period of time. In men, hormone production and testosterone bioavailability decline more gradually. The effects — such as changes in sexual function, energy level or mood — tend to be subtle and might go unnoticed for years. 　　“男性经绝期”有时指伴随年龄的增长男性体内出现的睾丸激素水平或具有生物药效的睾丸激素的减少。然而，妇女经绝期与所谓的男性经绝期却是两码事。妇女更年期时，排卵停止且短期内激素分泌量短期内骤减。而男性经绝期时，体内的激素分泌量和具有生物药效的睾丸激素的减少相对比较缓慢，其对人体的影响，如性功能、精神状态或情绪的改变更加微妙，甚至数年之内人们都可能不会发现这些改变。 So what's the best way to refer to so-called male menopause? Many doctors use the term "andropause" to describe aging-related hormone changes in men. Other terms for so-called male menopause include testosterone deficiency, androgen deficiency of the aging male and late-onset hypogonadism. 　　那么，如何称呼所谓的男性经绝期才最准确呢？许多医生建议使用“男性更年期”来描述由于年龄因素导致的男性体内激素的变化。男性经绝期其它的名称还有：睾丸素缺乏症、老年雄激素缺乏症和迟发性性功能减退。 Understanding male hormones over time 　　了解男性体内的荷尔蒙 Testosterone levels vary greatly among men. In general, however, older men tend to have lower testosterone levels than do younger men. Testosterone levels gradually decline throughout adulthood — about 1 percent a year after age 30 on average. By about age 70, the decrease in a man's testosterone level can be as much as 50 percent. 　　男性体内的睾丸素水平因人而异。总体而言，年长男性体内的睾丸素比年轻男性的偏低。成年男性体内的睾丸素逐年下降——30岁以后每年以百分之一的速度下降。将近70岁时，体内的睾丸素将下降多达50%。 Recognizing low testosterone levels 　　认识低睾丸素症状 Some men have a lower than normal testosterone level without signs or symptoms. For others, low testosterone might cause: 　　有些人体内的睾丸素低于正常值时，并不会出现相应的征兆和症状。也有些人，当体内的睾丸素偏低时，会出现： Changes in sexual function. This might include erectile dysfunction, reduced sexual desire, fewer spontaneous erections — such as during sleep — and infertility. Your testes might become smaller as well. 　　性功能减退。其中包括勃起障碍、性欲减退、自然勃起，例如在睡眠中勃起，的次数减少和不育症。此外，睾丸也可能变小。 Changes in sleep patterns. Sometimes low testosterone causes sleep disturbances, such as insomnia, or increased sleepiness. 　　睡眠发生改变。有时睾丸素偏低会导致睡眠障碍，如失眠或嗜睡。 Physical changes. Various physical changes are possible, including increased body fat; reduced muscle bulk, strength and endurance; and decreased bone density. Swollen or tender breasts (gynecomastia) and loss of body hair are possible. Rarely, you might experience hot flashes and have less energy. 　　体格发生变化。体格也可能发生各种变化，如身体变胖、肌肉减少、力量和耐力减弱骨骼密度降低。有的人也可能出现乳房肿胀或男子女性型乳房以及体毛脱落。极少数情况下出现热潮红和乏力。 Emotional changes. Low testosterone might contribute to a decrease in motivation or self-confidence. You might feel sad or depressed, or have trouble concentrating or remembering things. 　　　情绪波动。睾丸素偏低可能会令人意志消沉或缺乏自信。你也可能感觉悲伤、压抑，或无法集中注意力或记忆力减退。 It's important to note that some of these signs and symptoms are a normal part of aging. Others can be caused by various underlying factors, including medication side effects, thyroid problems, depression and excessive alcohol use. A blood test is the only way to diagnose a low testosterone level or a reduction in the bioavailability of testosterone. 　　上述的部分征兆和症状也可能是衰老的正常现象，明白这点同样重要。也有些此类症状是由其它潜在因素导致，这些因素包括：药物副作用、甲状腺问、抑郁症和过量饮酒。进行血液测试是诊断睾丸素偏低或具有生物药效的睾丸激素减少的唯一途径。 Feeling your best 　　找出最有益于自己的方法 If you suspect that you have a low testosterone level, consult your doctor. He or she can evaluate possible causes for your signs and symptoms and explain treatment options. You can't boost your natural testosterone production, but these steps might help: 　　如果你怀疑自己体内睾丸素偏低，请咨询个人医生。他/她有助于你找出可能导致这类症状出现的因素并为你提供各类治疗。虽然你无法让自身产生更多的睾丸素，但如下方法或许对你有帮助： Be honest with your doctor. Work with your doctor to identify and treat any health issues that might be causing or contributing to your signs and symptoms — from medication side effects to erectile dysfunction and other sexual issues. 　　跟医生实话实说。配合医生查找和消除任何可能给你带来不适，如药物副作用、勃起障碍及其它性功能问题，的健康因素。 Make healthy lifestyle choices. Eat a healthy diet and include physical activity in your daily routine. Healthy lifestyle choices will help you maintain your strength, energy and lean muscle mass. Regular physical activity can even improve your mood and promote better sleep. 　　选择健康的生活方式。健康饮食并坚持每日锻炼身体。健康的生活习惯有助于你保持活力、充满精神、强健肌肉。每日进行身体锻炼甚至能改善情绪促进睡眠。 Seek help if you feel down. Depression in men doesn't always mean having the blues. You might have depression if you feel irritable, isolated and withdrawn. Other signs of depression common in men include working excessively, drinking too much alcohol, using illicit drugs or seeking thrills from risky activities. 　　心情不好时，寻求帮助。抑郁症患者并非总是现出忧郁。患者还可能出现易怒、孤僻和沉默寡言。男性其它抑郁症的征兆还表现为：不停地工作、酗酒、滥用毒品或通过危险的活动寻求刺激。 Be wary of herbal supplements. Herbal supplements haven't been proved safe and effective for aging-related low testosterone. Some supplements might even be dangerous. Long-term use of DHEA, for example, has no proven benefits and might increase the risk of prostate cancer. 　　慎用草药补充剂。通过草药补充剂缓解睾丸素偏低的安全性及其效果尚有待证实。有些草药补充剂甚至对人体有害。例如，长期服用脱氢表雄酮（DHEA）并不会给人体带来确切的好处，却可能增加罹患前列腺癌的风险。 Treating aging-related low testosterone with testosterone replacement therapy is controversial. For some men, testosterone therapy relieves bothersome signs and symptoms of testosterone deficiency. For others, however — particularly older men — the benefits aren't clear. The risks are a concern as well. Testosterone replacement therapy might increase the risk of prostate cancer or other health problems. If you wonder whether testosterone injections or other testosterone treatments might be right for you, work with your doctor to weigh the pros and cons. 　　通过睾丸素替代品治疗年龄因素导致的睾丸素偏低的做法仍存在争议。对有些人而言，睾酮补充疗法可缓解令人烦扰的睾丸素缺乏症的征兆和症状。然而，也有些人，尤其是老年人，感觉睾酮补充疗法的效果并不明显。此外，随之而来的风险也是人们的一大顾虑。睾酮补充疗法可能会增加前列腺的风险或带来其它健康问题。如果对于注射睾丸素或其它疗法，你不确定哪种适合，请与医生一道权衡利弊。