TRT in the UK and EU | Contact: +44 (0) 203 9003 209 | Login
TRT in the UK and EU | Contact: +44 (0) 203 9003 209 | Login
Medically Reviewed by Dr. George Touliatos
When you hear the term “menopause”, you might automatically associate it with women. While menopause is a condition that almost exclusively affects women, there is a condition that is called andropause that is more informally known as “male menopause”. While not technically menopause, it does carry many of the same symptoms, which causes many to refer to it as the male version of menopause. These symptoms are what are commonly seen in men who have trouble producing enough testosterone or have a condition causing testosterone deficiency. It is also closely related with a condition known as hypogonadism and androgen deficiency.
Male menopause is a condition that includes a decrease in the production of testosterone, primarily in men who are 50 or older, but not exclusively. The primary condition that is the cause of this seems to be hypogonadism, which is a common condition that causes low testosterone and the many symptoms that can accompany testosterone deficiency.
Testosterone is the most important hormone produced in the body of men, and they contribute to many of the healthy bodily functions that men experience every day. Testosterone is exclusively produced in the testes and if they are not producing as much testosterone as they should it can lead to a hormone imbalance in the body. While many people associate testosterone with simply being in charge of fueling sex drive, that is far from the only thing that it is responsible for. It helps to regulate things like puberty, mental and physical energy levels, maintaining and increasing muscle, emergency response instincts, and also has a hand in countless other features of our bodies.
While male menopause and female menopause share the title of menopause, the cycles that men and women go through during this time are quite different. The main difference is that all men don’t experience male menopause, while all women are subject to menopause. Another difference is that the men that do go through male menopause do not experience a complete shutdown of the reproductive organs. Though it does not result in a complete shut down, it can affect sex drive and sexual function heavily.
Just like with female menopause, there are several symptoms of male menopause that you should be aware of. Unfortunately, the symptoms of male menopause are very broad and can affect many parts of the body and mind. Additionally, they very commonly worsen as the person ages, meaning it could become an ongoing issue that continues to develop. Here are the symptoms, both physical and mental, that one might expect when going through male menopause or another low-testosterone related condition.
Since testosterone plays a large role in making sure that the bodies of men function properly and as intended, a deficiency in testosterone can have physical consequences that are less than pleasant. There are a number of symptoms that you might experience when you have a low testosterone condition or you are going through natural male menopause.
One of the main symptoms that you might experience is low energy. Since testosterone is partially responsible for giving you energy and drive, low testosterone can mean that you have lower energy and higher overall fatigue than usual. This can also contribute to decreased motivation in your personal and professional life and lead you to be less productive and less driven than what you were previously.
Another effect that you can feel from low testosterone during a time of male menopause is insomnia or general difficulty sleeping. Without the right balance of hormones, you can find that sleeping and other basic activities start becoming harder and more of a struggle, especially when it comes to regulating those activities. Without the right sleep schedule or amount, it can also take a toll on your energy and productivity.
With a less regulated body and more irregular body functions, low testosterone can also contribute to raising the amount of body fat that you have and put you in worse physical shape overall. These effects also transmit to muscle mass and strength, since testosterone also plays a large part in developing muscles and providing muscular strength to the body.
Since testosterone is the main hormone for men and provides what is necessary for puberty and development of proper sex organs, a low testosterone could lead to an imbalance in the development of the body. Without proper testosterone, it is possible that men could develop breasts. This also will come with a decreased sex drive and also possibly problems achieving or maintaining an erection.
Though it is clear that the physical symptoms of male menopause and low testosterone are often times severe and hard to deal with, there are also many mental symptoms that men must deal with when they go through male menopause. The reason that many men feel these emotional and mental effects from low testosterone is that testosterone is a very important hormone to not only the body, but also the mind. Testosterone has a large hand in making sure that there is a good balance in your body and that your mood and emotions are regulated. Without the right amount of testosterone, this balance will be disturbed and could affect your emotions and moods in a variety of ways.
One of the most prominent mental side effects of low testosterone and male menopause is depression or sadness. The chemical imbalance in the brain can cause men to feel sad and depressed more so than usual and more often. Typically, feeling depression and sadness is a good sign that male menopause or low testosterone might be occurring.
Along with sadness, another symptom that might be felt from an emotional standpoint is a simple lack of motivation and drive. With a regular level of hormones in the body, many people establish a certain standard level of motivation and drive to accomplish things. Without testosterone at the right levels, this desire will likely diminish.
Whether it is by distraction due to male menopause or simple restlessness, many men who go through male menopause also suffer from a lack of concentration and cous. Men who are going through male menopause or low testosterone might find it difficult to sit through work or other activities that require a high amount of focus and concentration. This can cause issues of productivity as well as happiness, further disturbing the flow of your personal and professional life.
| Lack of energy | Loss of motivation | Low libido (sex drive) |
| Brain fog | Increased body fat | Irritability |
| Loss of confidence | Poor sleep cycles | Weak erections |
| No morning erections | Facial hair loss | Lack of concentration |
| Fatigue | Sleep apnea | Depression |
If you want to combat your male menopause and reverse the symptoms that you might be experiencing, then the first step is diagnosing the condition in the first place. Diagnosing male menopause as a concept is difficult, since it’s not a technical medical term. However, the underlying conditions that cause it to happen are much easier to diagnose. To start, your doctor simply needs to take a blood sample to test the amount of testosterone in your bloodstream. This will give the doctor insight into what levels your testosterone is at and whether they are appropriate for your age and other factors in your life.
Though identifying male menopause is pretty simple and easy, the treatment is the hard part of the process. The reason that treatment can be difficult for low testosterone conditions is that there are a variety of reasons that can be causing the low testosterone. For most of the men who are experiencing male menopause, they are experiencing it as a result of age. It is a known fact that decline in testosterone levels in men over time is a natural and normal thing to occur. That is why you shouldn’t be too concerned if you are experiencing low testosterone as an aging man.
It is normal to experience a decline in testosterone as you age, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing you can do about it. There are several natural steps that you can take to lessen the effects of low testosterone on your body. They include:
However, if you are experiencing low testosterone at a younger age and going through the symptoms of male menopause earlier than you should be, there are some actionable steps that you can take to combat those effects. You can get testosterone replacement therapy, which is a therapy that is designed to supplement the testosterone in your body through testosterone injections or another method. This regulates the amount of testosterone in your body and mitigates the side effects of low testosterone. In addition, you can take natural treatment steps to combat low testosterone and ensure that you are putting your body in the best position possible to produce the right amount of testosterone.
If you are experiencing male menopause or are concerned about the issue of low testosterone, then being informed is your greatest weapon. With the information that you now have, you should be able to identify low testosterone, know which questions to ask your medical professional, and gain more insight into the treatment options that you have for low testosterone.
How long does male menopause last?
Men start to produce 1% less testosterone a year once they reach the age of 30+ so unfortunately the symptoms associated with male menopause will not go away unless you opt for TRT.
What is the male menopause age?
As the body decreases testosterone productions by 1% each year, you could experience the symptoms above at anytime after this, however they can become more severe in your late 30s and 40s.
Is there a male menopause?
Yes this condition does exist and is far less known and talked about compared to the female menopause, however awareness for the condition is starting to increase.
Male menopause and the NHS
The NHS don’t often treat this condition and have less knowledge on the subject than our specialist doctors, so we would advise speak to us rather than the NHS.
Male menopause and hot flashes
As your hormones adjust with age or if you have a hormone imbalance you may experience hot flashes, we advise having one of our comprehensive blood tests to check your overall hormonal health and bodily functions.
Male menopause and depression
Testosterone levels play an important role in mood control, and can affect depression, confidence, sexual urges and more.
What are the signs of male menopause?
Please review our symptoms table above for a full list of signs and symptoms associated with the male menopause, these can range from low libido, fatigue, body fat all the to depression and sleep issues.
The below links are scientific references, resources to perform further analysis and reading along with studies that have been conducted:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/male-menopause/
https://www.healthline.com/health/menopause/male
https://www.medicinenet.com/male_menopause/article.htm
This article has been researched and written based on scientific evidence and fact sheets that have then been crossed checked by our team of doctors and subject matter experts.
References, sources and studies used alongside our own in-house research have been cited below, most of which contain external clickable links to reviewed scientific paper that contain date stamped evidence.
Our team of healthcare experts and GMC registered doctors are licensed to UK GMC standards. We strive to provide you with the latest evidence based, researched articles that are unbiased, honest and provide you with accurate insights, statistics and helpful information on the discussed topic to ensure you gain a better understanding of the subject.
We value your feedback on our articles, if you have a well-researched paper you would like to share with us please contact us.
If you know your total testosterone reading from a previous blood test input the results to the left above to see if your testosterone levels are normal.
You may have low testosterone depending on the symptoms you have, please contact us to find out how we can help.
The Total Testosterone Level You Entered Is Incorrect. Figure Must be in nmol/L you can use our converter here.
Your testosterone levels appear to be in the normal range.
You must be over 38, have had your ovaries removed or have suffered with premature menopause to warrant further hormone tests.
Please contact us to discuss your hormones, we need your total testosterone levels to validate your hormone deficiency. You can order a blood test here.
You may have low testosterone depending on the symptoms you have, please contact us to find out how we can help.
You appear to have higher than normal testosterone levels, please contact us for further investigation.
You appear to have normal testosterone levels. Contact us if you have any concerns.
Mike Kocsis has an MBA with a focus on healthcare administration and is an entrepreneur and medical case manager for Balance My Hormones Ltd which offers medical services in the UK and Europe. Mike has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, much of that working with people who have hormone imbalances. Mike has appeared on podcasts and radio and is an expert speaker on the subject of hormone imbalance. He specialises in Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and has helped thousands of people suffering from hormone imbalances recover and regain control of their lives. You can follow him on LinkedIn and on the Balance My Hormones YouTube Channel.
Men lose 50 to 100 hairs every day. Your hair falls out, and new hairs take their place as their growth cycle begins. However, sometimes you start losing more hair than you grow. As a result, thin hair patches appear on your head. Data show more than 85% of men lose hair at some time […]
Male hypogonadism is a condition in which your body fails to produce sufficient male sex hormone, testosterone, which plays many crucial roles in the body. It can affect men of any age; however, it is more prevalent in middle to old aged men. Data shows that 35% of men older than 45 years have primary […]
Testosterone, also referred to as the ‘king of hormones’ for men, plays a crucial role in driving libido, regulating mood, and maintaining bone density. But did you know testosterone’s influence extends far beyond these well-known roles? Recent studies have unveiled an interesting relationship between testosterone levels and the immune system. Keep reading the article to […]
Balance My Hormones helps customers restore their hormones to optimal levels through bespoke TRT and HRT treatment plans. We use modern American treatment methods and have over 25 years of experience in hormonal health which is backed up by our very own GPhC pharmacy.
