Manopause: Is Male Menopause Really a Thing?

Manopause: What’s Going On With Him?

You’re dealing with hot flushes, sleep disturbances, and mood swings—and suddenly, he’s more irritable than usual, exhausted by 8pm, and suspiciously interested in sports cars. No, you’re not imagining it. Welcome to manopause—the male midlife hormonal shift that’s very real, even if he swears it’s “just work stress.”

What Is Manopause? (Yes, It’s a Thing)

Formally known as andropause, this male equivalent of menopause is caused by a gradual decline in testosterone. It’s not as dramatic or time-specific as the hormonal drop women experience, but it can bring on real physical and emotional changes—just on a slower, quieter burn.

Whereas menopause tends to announce itself with unmistakable symptoms, manopause is more of a slow fade—like a phone battery that never quite hits 100% again.

The Subtle Signs of Manopause

If he’s not quite himself lately, here are some classic symptoms to watch out for:

• Lower sex drive (and not always keen to admit it)

• Unexplained tiredness or energy crashes

• Mood changes, irritability or low mood

• Muscle loss or increased belly fat

• Poor concentration and forgetfulness

• Confidence dips—masked as defensiveness or frustration

Sound familiar? It’s surprisingly similar to the emotional rollercoaster of perimenopause, just with less societal awareness—and a bit more denial.

What’s Causing It?

Testosterone levels naturally decline from around age 30, but the drop tends to be very gradual—around 1% per year. By the time men reach their late 40s to early 50s, some may start to feel the effects in a noticeable way. But here’s the kicker: other factors like stress, poor sleep, weight gain, alcohol use, and chronic illness can exacerbate symptoms and mask the hormonal cause.

And unlike menopause, where every woman will eventually go through it, not all men experience andropause symptoms—or at least not to the same degree.

Is He Just Getting Older—or Is It Manopause?

There’s a lot of debate around whether “manopause” is a medical condition or just another name for midlife. But plenty of hormone specialists now acknowledge that low testosterone—sometimes called late-onset hypogonadism—can impact health, relationships, and quality of life.

The truth? It might be both. Yes, ageing is a factor—but so is biology.

What Can Help? (And What You Can Gently Suggest)

If your partner is struggling but unwilling to face it head-on (hello, fragile male ego), here are a few gentle nudges that can make a difference:

1. Encourage a Check-Up

Low testosterone can be diagnosed with a simple blood test. If he’s not sleeping, gaining weight, or feeling low, it’s worth raising the possibility of hormonal changes with a GP.

2. Lifestyle Upgrades

Sometimes the best medicine starts at home:

• Strength training to help stimulate testosterone naturally

• Reducing alcohol intake

• Improving sleep hygiene

• Eating healthy fats and protein-rich foods

• Managing stress with mindfulness, breathing exercises or even therapy

3. Consider Hormone Therapy

If blood tests confirm low testosterone, Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) might be an option. But it needs medical supervision—this isn’t something to DIY with off-the-shelf testosterone boosters.

When You’re Both Changing at Once

Navigating your own menopause while he’s dealing with hormonal changes of his own? That’s a lot. But understanding what’s happening in both bodies can really help soften misunderstandings and improve communication.

You might be riding the hormone rollercoaster together—but now you’ve got the language (and a sense of humour) to name the turns.

Final Thought

So yes—manopause is real. It might not come with night sweats or vaginal dryness, but it does show up in quieter, subtler ways. And for many couples, acknowledging that both partners are going through changes can spark empathy, improve intimacy, and (hopefully) cut down on the thermostat wars.