The Rhythm of Life Through the Ages: The Relationship Between Male Menopause, Frequency of Sexual Intercourse, and Health and Longevity

Men typically experience symptoms of male menopause between the ages of 40 and 50, although the symptoms are not as pronounced as in women. The most direct manifestation of male menopause is decreased libido and erectile dysfunction (ED) due to a reduction in male hormones. However, this period coincides with the age when men, as members of society, are shouldering important responsibilities as middle managers and are also nearing retirement and the end of their lives.

Furthermore, the possibility of layoffs is also present. Therefore, men going through menopause are also prone to mental and neurological symptoms, especially fatigue, sleep disorders, and anxiety, which are indicative of depression. Symptoms preceding the onset of menopausal symptoms include: a feeling of declining physical strength and muscle power, easy fatigue; stiffness and soreness in the muscles and joints of the hands and legs; dry skin due to loss of moisture; and a tendency to accumulate stress, becoming irritable, anxious, and depressed.

Other symptoms include decreased memory and concentration; reduced alcohol tolerance. Many men experiencing andropause also experience a loss of interest in women, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and energy. Furthermore, individuals prone to male andropause disorders include: managers; bank employees and tax officials; and other professionals engaged in highly demanding, meticulous mental work.

Therefore, I think everyone can understand how important it is to prevent and treat male menopausal symptoms-especially to strengthen muscles, particularly lower body muscles-and simultaneously promote the secretion of more male hormones from the adrenal glands and testes. We often think of menopausal disorders as a condition affecting women, but in reality, male menopause is a more serious issue. If your partner is experiencing the above symptoms, please pay close attention to them.

International condom manufacturers conduct annual surveys on the frequency of sexual activity in different countries. This survey, conducted online, polls men aged 16 and over in 41 countries worldwide, with approximately 370,000 participants. According to the 2004 results, the French had the highest frequency of sexual activity at 137 times per year; followed by the Greeks at 133 times; and the Hungarians at 131 times.

The global average is 103 times a year, while Japanese men have sex 46 times a year, ranking last among all the countries surveyed. Compared to the French, who rank first, Japanese men have sex only one-third as often, and are far below the world average. The countries at the top of the list are generally perceived as pre-hunting and gathering societies with a meat-based diet, while the Japanese are essentially a herbivorous, agricultural people.

The significant difference in the frequency of sexual intercourse may be due to differences in the DNA between hunter-gatherer societies, where the risk of death was extremely high, and settled agricultural societies. For societies facing high risks, sex was primarily a reproductive activity aimed at maximizing the number of offspring, or even more so. Furthermore, a study at the University of Bristol in the UK investigated the relationship between the frequency of sexual intercourse and health.

The study found that people who have sex more than three times a week are healthier and live longer. Professor S. Abraham of the university also conducted some research, tracking 2,400 healthy men in Caerfield, England, for ten years, and found that those who had more sex had half the risk of heart disease or stroke. Another study in the UK also tracked 1,000 men aged 45 to 59 for ten years.

The results showed that men who had sex more than twice a week had a mortality rate twice as high as those who had sex less than once a week. Regardless of the specific study, the most significant finding was that men who had more frequent sex were less likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart disease. In other words, the more frequent the sex, the longer one can live. Sex is also a form of exercise; having sex twice a week has the same effect as jogging continuously for 20 minutes.

Professor Abraham, in explaining why people who have more sex are healthier, stated bluntly, "Because sex is a fantastic form of exercise." As long as the body is active, body temperature rises, blood circulation is promoted, thus purifying the blood, and the secretion of male hormones increases. Therefore, for men, moderate sexual activity plays a significant role in maintaining health and preserving virility.