Do men go through menopause?

Men can get menopause-type symptoms, too – but what’s the cause? Find out what to look out for and how to deal with it

What’s the menopause?

Male menopause symptoms

What causes the symptoms? 

What does male menopause feel like?

When to see a doctor 

Male menopause treatments 

Your health question answered 

Ever wondered whether there’s such a thing as the male menopause? Men in their 40s and 50s can get menopause-type symptoms – we explore the signs to look for, why it happens, plus what treatments are out there.  

## What’s the menopause?

“Manopause. Male menopause. Andropause. They’re all phrases you might hear to describe [symptoms](/self-care/male-menopause#symptoms) that some men get in their 40s and 50s. They’re symptoms that are similar to those experienced by women during the menopause and they can really interfere with your everyday life and happiness,” says Dr Ann Nainan, Healthily expert. 

“But it’s confusing to call it ‘male menopause’ because it suggests men have a sudden dip in hormones, like women in the menopause. That’s not the case. It’s true that men do have a drop in levels of testosterone (the main male sex hormone) as they get older, but it’s much more [gradual](/self-care/male-menopause#men-and-hormones) than the hormonal decline in women,” says Dr Ann. “Many women experience symptoms as their hormone levels drop around menopause, when periods stop, whereas not all men will get menopause-type symptoms– and when they do have these sorts of symptoms, they may not be related to hormone levels.” 

What IS similar for lots of men and women in their 40s and 50s is a resetting and shift in the way you see yourself and think about your life. Plus, the pressures and responsibilities of this life stage can have a big effect on your health and wellbeing.

So if you think your partner or a family member is experiencing ‘menopause for men’ and you want to know how to help him, read on to find out more. 


### Men and hormones, explained

- from around 20 years old, your testosterone levels fall about 1-2% a year 
- the rate at which testosterone declines really varies from man to man – a man in his 70s can have the same testosterone levels as another man in his 30s
- most of the time, this gradual fall in testosterone is unlikely to result in any symptoms – but there are [exceptions](/self-care/male-menopause#hormonal-shifts)

Get help with this

## Male menopause symptoms

You may be wondering if there’s a male menopause age. The answer is that you might find that some of these symptoms kick in when you reach your late 40s to early 50s: 
- [depression](/mind/stress-anxiety-depression) 
- [loss of sex drive](/sexual-health/medical-causes-of-low-libido)
- [erectile dysfunction](/self-care/erectile-dysfunction-partners-guide) 
- [mood swings](/mind/tips-for-improving-your-mood) and feeling irritable 
- loss of muscle mass and reduced ability to exercise 
- a bigger belly and/or ‘man boobs’ [(gynaecomastia)](/health-library/conditions/what-is-gynaecomastia) 
- lack of enthusiasm or [energy](/self-care/tiredness-and-fatigue-self-help-energy-tips) 
- [tiredness](/self-care/tiredness-and-fatigue-self-help-energy-tips) or [insomnia](/health-library/conditions/insomnia) 
- difficulty concentrating

If you’re not sure whether to see a doctor, use our [Healthily Smart Symptom Checker](/symptom-checker) to work out your best next steps. 


## What causes the symptoms? 

### Life circumstances

“In your 40s and 50s, you might be juggling a demanding job, money worries, family life, and concerns about aging parents,” says Dr Ann. “Any of these factors can contribute to everything from low libido to mood swings.” 

Then there’s the concept of a ‘midlife crisis’, when you feel you’ve got to the midway point in your life and become anxious about what you’ve achieved so far, and what you want to achieve next.

### Health and wellbeing triggers for male menopause

There are also lifestyle factors that can play a part in male menopause symptoms. These can include:

- lack of sleep
- poor diet
- not getting enough exercise
- drinking too much [alcohol](/self-care/effects-of-alcohol) 
- [smoking](/self-care/what-happens-stop-smoking) 
- [low self-esteem](/mind/dealing-with-low-self-esteem) 


### Hormonal shifts

- a condition called late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) may be to blame. This is a testosterone deficiency that develops later in life, when your levels have depleted enough to cause symptoms
- but LOH isn’t part of normal aging, and it’s rare – it’s hard to know exactly how many men are affected but 1 study found that it happens in 1 in 50 of men aged 40-70
- LOH is more common in men who have type 2 diabetes or who are very overweight (obese) 
- it’s known by different names, such as testosterone deficiency (TD) and androgen deficiency in the aging male (ADAM)
- if tests show that you have LOH, your doctor may suggest [hormone therapy](/self-care/male-menopause#selfcare-and-treatment)


## What does male menopause feel like?

Here, men describe what male menopause symptoms – with different causes – really feel like. 

Kiran, 47, a philosopher and author who works at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, believes that he has been through a midlife crisis. He describes getting to a point where he realized he wasn’t going to achieve everything in life that he wished. “I suddenly was aware in a way I hadn’t been of all the things in my life I wasn’t going to do, and all the ambitions that had been sort of put on hold for 20 years — but now they were permanently on hold. They were not going to happen.” 

Michael, a UK-based doctor, says of his late 40s and 50s: “I began waking up at 3am almost every night. To cope with the stress I ate junk food and drank more than I should; my weight crept up…That was when I realized that I had to turn my life around.” Michael puts his symptoms down to life circumstances in his late 40s, including the death of his father, parenting his 4 children, plus work pressures. 

For Ross, low testosterone levels were to blame for his symptoms, which included brain fog: “I remember driving home from work and giving myself a simple challenge to describe the car I was in and list as many possible words as I could. To my horror, I couldn't get a single word out. I was holding the steering wheel but still couldn't say the word, I was looking at the dashboard and out the windscreen but couldn't think of, nor say the words.”
### How it feels for female partners
“If you have a male partner who’s going through symptoms, that can be really tough on you – especially if you’re dealing with the menopause. There’s a balance to strike between supporting your partner and looking after yourself, too,” says Dr Ann.

Here’s what real women have said: 

Nancy attributes a midlife crisis to her husband’s lowered libido. She says: “Adam feels inadequate in most parts of his life, including his sex life. He needs constant assurance and I have not been able to help him as I am clueless about how to help.”

Meanwhile, Julia* says her husband’s midlife crisis has affected their relationship and now he wants a divorce. She says: “His life had gotten humdrum, work had turned particularly pressured (and in a way made him powerless) and he seemed to blame me for his lot in life…. What can bring someone out of a midlife crisis?”


## When to see a doctor 

See your doctor if you’re having any [symptoms.](/self-care/male-menopause#symptoms) Your doctor may: 

- __ask about your symptoms__ – it’s a good idea to keep a diary of them ahead of your appointment 
- __ask you about your personal and work life__ to help work out whether stress or other psychological factors might be playing a part in how you’re feeling
- __send you for a blood test to check your testosterone levels__ 
- __carry out some other tests__ to rule out other causes


## Male menopause treatments 

### Self-care 
It may be that you can control your symptoms – and potentially shrink your risk for getting symptoms in the first place – by making a few lifestyle changes. These tips will be supportive whether your symptoms are caused by a testosterone deficiency or by non-hormonal factors:

- __find ways to relieve stress__ – while you can’t magic away the monthly bills, work deadlines and everything else that makes you feel frazzled, you can learn to cope with stress. Try these [science-backed tips today](/mind/8-ways-to-quickly-relieve-stress) 
- __supercharge your diet__ – are you eating as healthily as you could be? [Find out what foods should be on your plate](/nutrition/healthy-eating-and-balanced-diet) 
- __sort your sleep__ – from switching off your screens 2 to 3 hours before bed, to making sure your bedroom is cool and dark, there’s plenty you can do to ramp up your chances of [sound snoozing](/sleep/how-to-sleep-well-your-complete-guide) 
- __get moving__ – when life’s busy it can be hard to find the time to exercise, so read our [tips](/physical-activity/7-ways-to-exercise-even-if-youre-too-busy) on squeezing it into your schedule
- __ease up on alcohol__ – [reducing](/self-care/tips-on-cutting-down-alcohol) your beer and wine intake can help with everything from your sleep and mood to your weight
- __stop smoking__
- __it’s good to talk__ – you might find it helpful to talk your worries and symptoms through with a trained counselor. The [American Psychological Association](https://locator.apa.org/) has a psychologist directory where you can search for someone in your area and by their practice area (for example, sleep disorders, stress, burnout)

### Treatment from your doctor

Here’s what you need to know about testosterone therapy: 
- it’s not recommended for the normal decline in testosterone levels that happen as you age 
- if blood tests show that you have a condition like LOH, your doctor may suggest testosterone therapy – this is where your levels of the hormone are replaced
- testosterone therapy usually comes as tablets, shots, gels or patches


## Your health question answered 

### Can men have hot flashes?

“Yes, you can have hot flashes if you have LOH,” says Dr Ann. “But the gradual dip in testosterone levels that can happen as you get older won’t lead to hot flashes in the way declining estrogen can in women at menopause. There are other conditions and medications that may bring on hot flashes in men, though  – for example, a certain type of treatment for prostate cancer that lowers your testosterone levels. So it’s important you see your doctor if you’re not sure what might be causing the hot flashes. Hot flashes feel the same for men and women.” 

*Name has been changed

Medical disclaimer: *Quotes are the views of the authors of these statements, and aren’t necessarily the views of Healthily, its medical team or writers.*


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References

 Christina Quaine

Healthily's medical team

Article information

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