By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Many people may think ``climacteric " only affects women before their menopause but a recent survey suggests that seven out of every 10 men here also suffer from it.
Lack of testosterones is said to be the main cause of male climacteric, leading to decreased sex drive, fatigue, lack of concentration, increased body fat and decreased muscle mass and strength. Testosterone tends to decrease by 1.2 percent every year from age 40 and by 70 one has lost 35 percent of it.
According to multinational pharmaceutical Bayer Healthcare's survey on 1,000 males from Korea, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand, about half of men (53 percent) aged over 45 have suffered from climacteric.
However, the figure rises when it comes to Korean men ― 76 percent said they have experienced it. The Korean Society for Aging Male Research, which participated in the survey, also suggested that 20 percent of middle-aged men complain of fatigue due to climacteric.
Regrettably, only 30 percent said they consult doctors about health issues and only 11 percent were aware of hormonal treatment for the symptom. One can get testosterone injections every three months with prescriptions.
Dr. Park Nam-cheol of Pusan National University Hospital warned that male climacteric could cause further health issues. ``Male climacteric could be an early signal of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and other disorders. Men must come for health checks. Though men here rank the highest in number of sufferers, the actual turn up rate at hospitals is the lowest,'' he said.
Dr. Jung Woo-sik of Ewha Womans University Hospital advised men to visit doctors since climacteric could reduce their quality of life. ``Since it is deeply related to sex ― sometimes it causes impotence or triggers depression and a lack of self-esteem. Dealing with the symptoms could help overcome the so-called mid-life crisis,'' he said.