Do men go through menopause?
The short answer: not in the sense women do. Menopause is the permanent end of periods as the ovaries make less hormone, and it is confirmed 12 months after the last period. In Türkiye, studies show the average age at menopause is 47–49 (the Turkish Ministry of Health’s Public Health Directorate, HSGM). It is a marked transition lasting several years, at the end of which fertility ends.
Men have no such milestone. The NHS says the term “male menopause” is often used in the media but is an unhelpful one. It is misleading because it suggests that testosterone drops suddenly in midlife, as hormones do in women; that isn’t true (NHS, The male menopause). Testosterone does fall with age, but slowly and gradually.
So why do so many men feel in midlife that “something has changed”? The answer usually lies more in life itself than in hormones.
What is andropause?
Andropause is an everyday name for the slow fall in testosterone in men as they age. MedlinePlus explains that age-related change in the male reproductive system is a general slowing down, not a complete loss of function. Men keep producing sperm; production slows, but there is no major change in fertility developing over a few months as there is in women (MedlinePlus).
According to the NHS, testosterone levels fall by about 1 percent a year on average after age 30–40, and this decline alone usually does not cause problems (NHS, The male menopause). In other words, “andropause” is not the male equivalent of menopause in women but a quiet part of aging.
| Menopause in women | Age-related change in men |
|---|---|
| Ovarian hormones fall markedly | Testosterone falls slowly, about 1 percent a year |
| Periods stop permanently; there is a clear milestone | No clear milestone |
| Fertility ends | Sperm production slows but continues |
| Average age 47–49 in Türkiye | No set age |
| Symptoms usually last 7–9 years (NHS) | Most symptoms are linked to lifestyle and health |
What are the symptoms of male menopause?
The NHS says the symptoms referred to as “male menopause” are usually reported in the late 40s to early 50s. The symptoms listed are (NHS, The male menopause):
- Low mood, mood swings and irritability.
- Reduced sex drive and erection problems.
- Loss of muscle and lower capacity for exercise.
- Fat around the belly, sometimes enlarged breast tissue.
- Low energy, poor sleep and increasing tiredness.
- Difficulty concentrating and weaker short-term memory.
These symptoms are real and can affect daily life, work and relationships. But none of them on its own points to testosterone; the same list appears with poor sleep, stress or depression.
What else causes these symptoms in men?
The NHS stresses that many of the symptoms may be linked not to hormones but to lifestyle and mood (NHS, The male menopause). The causes it lists include:
- Stress, anxiety and depression.
- The pressures of midlife: problems with work, relationships or money, and worry about caring for aging parents.
- A “midlife crisis”: periods of growing worry about what you have achieved in life.
- Lifestyle: lack of sleep, poor diet, lack of exercise, too much alcohol, smoking and low self-esteem.
Erection problems deserve special attention. MedlinePlus says this problem is more often caused by a medical condition than by aging itself; conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes can affect this function (MedlinePlus). The NHS also reminds us that physical causes such as smoking and heart problems can exist alongside psychological ones. With age, an enlarged prostate can also slow the flow of urine (MedlinePlus).
What is late-onset hypogonadism?
If symptoms can’t be explained by lifestyle or mood, a clinician may check whether the testicles are producing enough hormone. Hypogonadism means the testicles produce too little hormone or none at all. The NHS says this can develop later in life, especially in men who have obesity or type 2 diabetes; but it is an uncommon, distinct medical condition and is not considered a normal part of aging (NHS, The male menopause).
The EMAS study, which examined 3369 men aged 40–79 in Europe, found that three sexual symptoms showed the most consistent link with low testosterone: fewer morning erections, reduced sexual desire and erection problems. The researchers defined late-onset hypogonadism as at least three of these symptoms occurring together with low testosterone (Wu et al., 2010). In other words, tiredness or low drive on its own does not point to this condition.
What can men observe in themselves in midlife?
Watching yourself carefully for a few weeks helps you understand where symptoms are coming from. These questions can guide you:
- Sleep: How many hours do you sleep a night? Do you snore or wake often? Lack of sleep alone can explain tiredness, low drive and irritability.
- Alcohol and smoking: Have they increased in recent years? The NHS lists both among the factors that can contribute to symptoms.
- Activity: How much do you walk or exercise each week? Muscle loss and fat around the belly are also linked to inactivity.
- Stress: Is anything at work, at home or in the family weighing on you? Did the symptoms start around that time?
- Medicines and illnesses: Do you take medicines for blood pressure, diabetes or another condition? MedlinePlus says medicines and illnesses can affect sexual function.
The NHS says talking therapy, exercise and relaxation techniques can help with symptoms linked to stress and anxiety (NHS, The male menopause). These observations make it easier, when you talk to a clinician, to separate what may be hormonal from what may be about life itself.
When should men see a doctor?
If any of these symptoms affect your daily life, work or relationship, seeing a clinician is the right step. The NHS says a doctor will first discuss possible causes in your work and personal life, especially your mental health, and, if needed, check your testosterone level with a blood test (NHS, The male menopause). Which assessment and which option are right is decided together with your clinician.
Before the appointment, it helps to note: when the symptoms started, how often they happen, what your sleep and drinking patterns are like, which medicines you take and what has changed in your life recently.
For men whose partner is in menopause
Some people searching this question are actually trying to understand not their own body but what their partner is going through. If your partner is in perimenopause or menopause, her transition is very different from yours: the hormonal change is more marked, and the symptoms spread across a wide area, from hot flashes and night sweats to sleep, mood and sexuality. You can find the full list of symptoms on the menopause symptoms page.
We explain in detail how you can support her during this time, what is often misunderstood and what really helps in my partner is in menopause: a guide for partners. Talking about your own midlife changes can also be part of this process; you are both changing, in different ways, during the same years.