What Every Woman (and Man) Should Know About Andropause

After everything women go through, periods, pregnancy, childbirth, perimenopause and menopause, it almost feels unfair that men might get off completely unscathed.

The internet certainly doesn't think so.

Scroll through social media for long enough and you'll find countless jokes about "manopause." A husband buys a motorbike. Suddenly he's obsessed with the gym. He becomes unusually grumpy, starts talking about testosterone and decides he absolutely needs a barbecue that costs more than the family holiday.

It's funny because we've all heard the stereotype.

But beneath the jokes lies a surprisingly interesting question.

Is male menopause actually real?

The short answer is yes... and no.

Men don't experience menopause in the same way women do. There isn't a single biological event where reproductive hormones rapidly decline, periods stop and fertility comes to an end. What men experience is something much slower and far less dramatic. Testosterone gradually declines over time, and for some men, that decline can begin to affect how they feel physically, mentally and emotionally.

Doctors don't usually call this "male menopause." The medical term is late-onset hypogonadism, although you'll also hear it referred to as andropause.

The nickname may not be medically perfect, but the conversation itself is worth having.

Why Menopause And "Manopause" Aren't The Same Thing

One of the biggest misconceptions is that men go through the male version of menopause. They don't.

Women's menopause is a clearly defined biological transition. As ovarian function declines, oestrogen and progesterone levels fall significantly over a relatively short period of time. For many women, the physical and emotional changes can be profound.

Men's hormone levels follow a very different pattern.

From around the age of 30 onwards, testosterone gradually declines by around 1% each year for many men. It's slow, often subtle and doesn't affect every man in the same way. Many men will never notice any symptoms at all.

That's an important distinction.

While menopause is something every woman will eventually experience if she lives long enough, clinically significant testosterone deficiency affects a much smaller proportion of men.

So Why Is Everyone Suddenly Talking About It?

Partly because we're talking about hormones more than ever before.

For decades, conversations around hormones focused almost exclusively on women. Thankfully, that's changing. As awareness grows around menopause, researchers and healthcare professionals are also paying closer attention to men's hormonal health.

The result? More men are recognising symptoms they may previously have ignored. More importantly, they're beginning to ask questions. And that's never a bad thing.

What Can Low Testosterone Actually Feel Like?

This is where the conversation becomes much more nuanced.

Low testosterone doesn't suddenly transform someone into a completely different person, and many of the symptoms commonly blamed on "manopause" overlap with dozens of other health conditions.

Men with clinically low testosterone may experience reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, lower energy levels, reduced muscle mass, increased body fat, poorer recovery from exercise, changes in mood, reduced motivation or difficulty concentrating.

Sound familiar? It should.

Many of those same symptoms also occur with poor sleep, chronic stress, depression, obesity, thyroid disorders, certain medications and simply getting older.

That's exactly why no one should diagnose themselves based on a social media video.

Can You Blame Everything On Testosterone?

Absolutely not.

In fact, this is one of the biggest similarities between men's and women's hormonal health.

Women are often told, "It's just your hormones." Men are increasingly hearing, "It's probably low testosterone." Neither assumption is particularly helpful.

Good healthcare starts with curiosity rather than conclusions. Symptoms deserve investigating, not guessing. Sometimes testosterone is part of the picture. Sometimes it isn't.

When Should Men Actually Speak To Their GP?

If symptoms are persistent, affecting quality of life or beginning to interfere with relationships, work or general wellbeing, it's worth having a conversation with a healthcare professional.

Diagnosis isn't based on symptoms alone. Doctors will usually consider medical history, lifestyle and blood tests before deciding whether testosterone deficiency is actually present. This is important because testosterone naturally fluctuates throughout the day, and many other health conditions can produce remarkably similar symptoms.

The goal isn't simply to treat low testosterone. It's to understand what's causing the symptoms in the first place.

What Couples Can Learn From Each Other

Perhaps the most interesting part of this conversation isn't whether male menopause exists. It's what happens when both partners begin understanding hormones a little better.

Many women spend years feeling misunderstood during perimenopause and menopause. They're told they're emotional, stressed or simply getting older when, in reality, complex hormonal changes are taking place beneath the surface.

As conversations around men's hormonal health become more common, perhaps both sides gain something valuable. Empathy.

When we understand that hormones can influence sleep, mood, confidence, energy and relationships, it becomes much easier to appreciate what our partners may be experiencing, even if those experiences aren't identical.

After all, relationships rarely improve because one person "wins" the argument about who's got it harder. They improve because both people feel heard.

What About CBD?

As a menopause brand, we're often asked whether men can take CBD too, and the answer is yes. CBD isn't a women-only ingredient, and many men already include it as part of their daily wellness routine.

When it comes to male menopause (andropause) specifically, however, it's important to separate what we know from what we're still learning. At present, there isn't enough high-quality research to say that CBD directly increases testosterone levels or treats andropause itself.

What we do know is that many of the challenges men report during this stage of life, such as poor sleep, increased stress and difficulty switching off, are areas where CBD has been widely explored. While research is still evolving, some studies suggest CBD may support sleep quality and help reduce feelings of anxiety in certain individuals, both of which can have a meaningful impact on overall wellbeing.

That's why many couples now choose to incorporate CBD into their evening routine together, not because it's a cure for hormonal changes, but because supporting better sleep, relaxation and recovery can benefit anyone, regardless of whether they're navigating menopause, andropause or simply the demands of everyday life.

Our 48mg Full Spectrum CBD Gummies have become particularly popular among couples for exactly this reason. They're an easy, enjoyable way to incorporate CBD into an evening wellness routine, whether you're looking to unwind after a busy day, support better sleep or simply prioritise a little more self-care together. While they're not designed to treat male menopause itself, they may help support some of the lifestyle factors that influence how we all feel day to day.

As always, if you're considering trying CBD, choose products from reputable brands that provide transparent ingredient information and independent laboratory testing, and speak to your healthcare professional if you're taking medication or have underlying health conditions.

The Bottom Line

So... is male menopause real? Not in the way most people think.

The phrase "male menopause" may make for a catchy headline, but the science tells a more interesting story. Men don't experience menopause in the same way women do, yet hormonal changes can still influence how some men feel as they get older.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway isn't about comparing men and women at all. It's recognising that hormones matter. For everyone.

Women's menopause deserves greater awareness. Men's hormonal health deserves greater understanding. Neither conversation takes anything away from the other.

And if all this article has achieved is preventing one husband from blaming his new sports car on "low testosterone"... then we'd like to think we've done our bit. 😉