Men make up 44% of inquiries for Danica menopause support

Men accounted for 44 per cent of inquiries about a menopause support service launched by pension company Danica, DR reports. One of them is 63-year-old Lars Peter Graulund, who says he had gradually lost energy and found it harder to feel joy.

Graulund had spent his free time writing songs, rehearsing with his band, coding and woodworking. Over time, he increasingly ended his evenings in front of the television, no longer looking forward to much. A conversation with his doctor found that he did not have depression, but he did not know what was wrong until an email from Danica described how menopause can affect men.

“It said a little about what male menopause can result in and how it shows itself, and I thought that could actually be me,” he said.

Danica launched its offer in the summer for customers troubled by menopause symptoms or seeking advice from a health professional. The company’s claims director, Mikkel Lykke Larsen, said the share of men seeking help in the first four months had surprised him.

“It tells me that men really want help, but that taking the first step needs to be easy for them,” Larsen said.

Testosterone levels decline gradually as men age. For some, this can affect sexual function, mood and energy. Men who have contacted Danica have described tiredness, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems and reduced sex drive, Larsen said.

Andropause, as male menopause is also known, is not the same biological process as menopause in women, Larsen said. Graulund had not previously considered it as a possible explanation for how he felt. He thought he might be going through a midlife crisis, describing a sense that life had become more about things winding down than developing.

Graulund has also sought help through Danica’s service for pain in his legs. The article cites Netdoktor as saying that a healthy diet and regular exercise may help reduce troublesome andropause symptoms.