The Male Menopause: Yes, It Really Does Exist!

Victoria Lambert investigates what’s really happening during that male midlife crisis, when testosterone levels start to drop

- Victoria Lambert

Misunderstood, moody, snappy, tired, night sweats, feeling that life is passing by too fast? No, it’s not your menopause we’re talking about. It’s his. And he’s not necessarily just grumpy – he has hormones, too.

Peri-manopause

While women’s first symptoms tend to be erratic periods, thanks to fluctuations in hormones, the beginning of male menopause may be detected in trips to car showrooms, or an investment in a new top-of-the-range titanium road bike with a wardrobe of designer Lycra. Surprisingly, this is potentially due to natural changes in the endocrine system. GP Dr Jeff Foster explains, “Male testosterone levels start to drop from the mid-thirties onwards, just like oestrogen in women. If a man has a high level to start with, he may not notice anything. But if he was already not producing very much, he will feel a sort of quietus. This is because we need testosterone to produce drive and motivation.”

The wake-up call

When men do go to the doctor for help, says specialist plastic surgeon Dr Grant Hamlet, it’s usually due to fatigue. “They’re feeling tired with very little energy, and may also be experiencing decreased libido.” Jeff agrees: “Some men realise their morning erections have disappeared and then make an appointment. But I also see a lot of women who are concerned that there is something wrong with their husbands, as they seem depressed.”

What’s his number?