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<\/p>\nMARKED by signature hot flashes and brain fog, menopause has taken a prime spot in the media spotlight in recent years.<\/p>\n
From battling HRT shortages to battles with bosses in the workplace, women have worked tirelessly to be taken seriously.<\/p>\n
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But women are not the only ones to experience it. Robbie Williams is the most recent in a string of fellas to open up about their struggles with what they call the 'male menopause', or andropause.<\/p>\n
The superstar singer told The Sun in an exclusive interview: "I\u2019ve used up all of the natural good stuff. I\u2019ve got the\u00a0manopause."<\/p>\n
The male\u00a0menopause can develop in men in their late 40s and early 50s, according to the\u00a0NHS, and is characterised by a decline in testosterone levels.<\/p>\n
Typical symptoms – which appear to align with menopause – include mood swings, loss of sex drive and muscle mass, difficulty sleeping and poor short-term memory. <\/p>\n
Yet, Dr Channa Jayasena, an endocrinologist based at Imperial College London, tells the Sun comparing the two is "troublesome" as the conditions are, in fact, very different.<\/p>\n In men, the drop in hormone levels happens gradually from the age of 30,\u00a0and this is unlikely to cause any problems in itself.<\/p>\n But for some blokes, the plunge in testosterone happens much faster, and this is usually because of lifestyle factors like diet or disease, Dr Channa explains.<\/p>\n This is unlike menopause, a natural part of ageing in all women between 45 and 55.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n "Having low testosterone is a symptom of another underlying health issue which hasn't been addressed," Dr Channa says. <\/p>\n "Much like how women lose their periods when they are unwell, a drop in testosterone is the body's way of telling us something is wrong and not to have babies," he adds. <\/p>\n Common 'male menopause' causes include heart disease, uncontrolled type two diabetes, being obese, not sleeping enough and drinking too much alcohol.<\/p>\n "For the majority of men, the andropause is fully preventable; female menopause is not," he adds.<\/p>\n Last month, an NHS Trust in the East Midlands announced it would be offering up to 12 months of paid leave to male staff affected by symptoms of low testosterone. <\/p>\n This is despite the NHS itself saying male menopause is not a clinical condition.<\/p>\n The hormone expert called the policy "complete madness".<\/p>\n "It misses the point that these men are probably suffering from underlying health issues," Dr Channa said.<\/p>\n "Instead, these middle-aged men must be encouraged to seek help and treatment."<\/p>\n Much like hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women, men struggling with testosterone levels can get artificial boosts in the form of a jab or gel to help combat uncomfortable symptoms.\u00a0<\/p>\n Happy Mondays star Shaun Ryder said HRT \u201cchanged my life\u201d.<\/p>\n The 61-year-old\u00a0once admitted \u201ctrying every drug around\u201d but now uses\u00a0testosterone gel\u00a0to boost libido and energy.<\/p>\n Testosterone – which is prescribed on the NHS – is usually reserved for men whose plunging levels don't appear to be lifestyle-related, suggesting they have\u00a0late-onset hypogonadism.<\/p>\n The rare condition causes delayed puberty and small testes, the NHS says. <\/p>\n Studies estimate that just two to six per cent of men suffer from\u00a0late-onset hypogonadism, whereas all women will suffer some form of menopause.<\/p>\n Yet, Dr Channa says the NHS is seeing an increasing number of men who have either started testosterone themselves illegally or have been started by a private clinic.<\/p>\n "Most of these men should never have been on testosterone in the first place," he says. <\/p>\n Taking testosterone when it's not needed can increase the risk of blood clots, high blood pressure and cholesterol, he adds. <\/p>\n For these men, taking testosterone is a bit like "putting a plaster over a cut", the expert says. <\/p>\n "It'll mask the symptoms, but in reality, you're still unwell," he adds,<\/p>\n Testosterone levels rise during puberty, usually between 10 and 14.<\/p>\n It causes boys to have deeper voices, bigger muscles, bigger bodies, and bigger facial hair.\u00a0<\/p>\n The hormone also helps the testes create sperm.\u00a0<\/p>\n Levels peak at 20, before slowly falling by around one per cent each year from the age of 30.<\/p>\n Sufferers of low testosterone commonly experience weight gain and gynecomastia, also known as man boobs. <\/p>\n And in severe cases, some suffer from erectile dysfunction.<\/p>\n But unlike women, these hormone changes don't render men infertile. <\/p>\n Menopause marks the point when a woman no longer has periods, marking the end of her fertility.<\/p>\n Almost nine in 10 women going through the menopause suffer symptoms like anxiety, mood swings and low self-esteem.<\/p>\n Hot flushes, sleeping difficulties, heart palpations, headaches, and muscle and joint pain are among a long list of agonising symptoms women experience.<\/p>\n Symptoms usually occur years before menopause officially begins, as periods start to become irregular. <\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/TM-Robbie_COMP.jpg\")
<\/picture>CROCK DJ <\/span><\/p>\nRobbie Williams in plastic surgery confession as he claims he's got 'manopause'<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/TOB-comp-clemmie-moodie-v2.jpg\")
<\/picture>CLEMMIE MOODIE <\/span><\/p>\nOur poor fellas have new hardship – the MANopause… what a load of b*****ks<\/h3>\n
'An underlying health issue'<\/h2>\n
Most read in Health<\/h2>\n
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<\/picture>ASK DR JEFF <\/span><\/p>\nCrippling arthritis to agonising foot pain – Dr Jeff answers health questions<\/h3>\n
Manopause policies <\/h2>\n
HRT for men<\/h2>\n
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Read More on The Sun<\/h2>\n
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