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The male menopause, the andropause, as a social taboo.
The menopause in women is either shameful, socially hushed up or made fun of and mocked – and not taken seriously. It is clear that men – the stronger sex – do not want to be part of a social no-go.
What about the men, anyway?
Until now, they were considered unassailable from a social point of view. Weaknesses were neither possible nor desirable in them. Men. They are just as human. Just like women. People with hormones. And yes: men experience them too. They just (usually) don’t realise it.
The andropause: the male menopause.
Why men are never or rarely mentioned in this context or are at the centre of public attention certainly has to do with the society in which we live: Performance, patriarchally shaped, internalised capitalism.
We are the best. The fastest. The greatest. That’s the world view. Everything else is seen as a weakness.
Internalised capitalism is the idea that our self-worth is directly related to our productivity.
You can’t feel the value of yourself just by being alive – just by being a human being. You have to be a ‘human doing’ in order to have value.
Anders Hayden, professor of political science at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, who studies the political and policy implications of alternative measures of well-being and prosperity outside of gross domestic product (GDP) / USA Today, 17 Jun 2021
This makes it all the more important to address this topic. And to break it down from the high horse of higher, further, better. In people. With pain, ups and downs, with worries and with joy. With physical issues. With mental issues. With fear and with courage.
What does ‘change’ actually mean? What is changing?
Andropause = transformation years.
For me personally, the term ‘menopause’ sounds very female-centred. Certainly also a result of the communication of the past decades. Menopause was bäh-bäh, and had to do with things that were only discussed behind closed doors. And of course: only women had that. Men… They didn’t have it! And that’s why it wasn’t socially relevant – the world view of lived patriarchy.
The ‘change’ refers to a natural transition process in the life of an adult, during which – physically speaking – the function of the sex hormones changes. This transition is different for women and men, but in both cases it is a phase of ‘change’ in the body’s hormonal balance.
In women, the menopause typically begins in the late 40s or early 50s. During this time, the ovaries gradually produce less oestrogen and progesterone, the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. This leads to a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including irregular periods, hot flushes, sleep disturbances and mood swings, but ‘atypical symptoms’ such as joint pain, dizziness etc. can also occur. Eventually, periods stop altogether and the woman can no longer have children.
In men, the process is less abrupt but still significant. Known as ‘andropause’, many men experience a gradual decline in testosterone levels from their mid to late 40s and into their late 50s. This can lead to a variety of symptoms such as fatigue, depression, sleep disorders, weight gain, reduced sexual desire and cognitive difficulties.
I have seen men in my practice who have all of these symptoms, but none of the doctors have ever addressed this issue. They suffer just as much, but they usually don’t know why. And this in turn (not knowing) makes the suffering deeper and longer.
So it’s the same for women. Why is this never discussed for men?
In both cases, the ‘change’ marks a shift in the phase of life and a change in our bodies. In addition to this biological change, there is also something else – it is a time of maturity and reflection. A phase of life when many people begin to reconsider their priorities and values, reflect on their experiences and seek a deeper meaning in life. It is an opportunity to draw literal wisdom from lived experiences and gain new perspectives on life. Or to completely reorient oneself.
The years of change, which are roughly a 10-15 year period, can be seen as a time of change and transformation – both physically and mentally. This natural and inevitable part of maturing is often misunderstood – and is stigmatised and taboo in (Western) cultures. But why?
Patriarchy and internalised capitalism
In society, men are often expected to be strong, independent and invulnerable. These expectations, coupled with internalised capitalism – the idea that our self-worth is directly related to our productivity – leads many men to ignore or hide their health symptoms.
Anders Hayden, professor of political science at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, has researched the effects of so-called internalised capitalism on our well-being. The results of his research are clear, and they are consistent with what I see in my practice: our mere existence as human beings has no value. Our doing and constant being productive creates our value. Only when we DO are we worth anything.
And this is considered ‘normal’ – but to put it simply, it is sick. Abnormal in the deepest way. No wonder I have so many people with me who just can’t get off the hamster wheel of doing – because then they are virtually worthless! This is the addictive strategy of internalised capitalism: dangling the carrot.
This way of life takes its revenge. And at the latest when men (and women) go through the menopause. Instead of recognising their symptoms and seeking help, they feel under additional pressure. They hide their problems and carry on… in order to fulfil the expectations of ‘others’ (society) and the demands of the capitalist system. The classic hamster wheel and its invisible driving mechanisms.
Women: New light on the menopause – The end of silence and shame
It is so immensely important to challenge these harmful norms and expectations and create a society in which all people – regardless of their gender – can openly address their health issues and seek support without fear of stigmatisation or rejection.
The menopause – a time that every woman goes through, but hardly anyone talks about it. It is often associated with shame and is hushed up or even ridiculed in society. It is as if this natural stage in a woman’s life is a taboo, a subject that is only discussed behind closed doors or with an inappropriate joke.
But times are changing. Slowly. More and more experts specialising in women’s health are coming forward to break this taboo. They are emphasising the importance of understanding, respecting and supporting the menopause naturally, rather than ignoring or belittling it.
This change in the way we talk about the menopause is a big step forward. It’s a sign that we’re starting to see the menopause for what it is – a normal, natural and healthy phase in a woman’s life. It’s time we stop being ashamed of our natural life processes and instead take pride in them.
Male menopause = andropause: The elephant in the room
The untold story of the male menopause – a completely natural process in the middle of a man’s life. When – among other things (not only) – testosterone levels gradually decline. Hormones have a significant impact on us – and therefore this change causes a number of physical, emotional and mental changes similar to those experienced by women during the menopause.
Despite the fact that andropause is a universal phenomenon that affects almost all men (some of whom don’t notice any symptoms), it is highly controversial and remains largely untold (hello patriarchy!) and misunderstood. Of course, andropause is not completely synonymous with the menopause, there are simply a lot of biological factors at play. Nevertheless, the andropause is an analogy to the menopause in women.
Many men are not aware of andropause and its symptoms and are therefore unable to categorise their experiences correctly. This usually leads them to ignore or hide their symptoms and not seek appropriate medical care or support.
A study conducted in Iran in 2017, for example, found that 73.6% of the men surveyed had symptoms of andropause, but only 15.15% of these men knew what to do with andropause.
If men go to the doctor at all with their perceived symptoms, it is usually because of their tiredness, sleep disorders… Depression is then often diagnosed – with appropriate medication. But rarely are all the blood values looked at from a functional medical point of view, the entire medical and life history recorded in the anamnesis or even looked at holistically.
The story of the male menopause is one that needs to be told. It really is now time to break this silence (along with the silence about the menopause) and raise awareness of the andropause.
How can andropause manifest itself relatively typically?
- Decreased sexual desire: A decrease in sexual interest or libido
- Erectile dysfunction: Difficulty getting or maintaining an erection
- Fatigue: A feeling of constant tiredness or exhaustion is a common symptom
- Mood swings: Irritability, depressive moods or anxiety
- Sleep disorders: Problems falling asleep or sleeping through the night
- Stress resistance decreases: stress can no longer be processed well – you become more thin-skinned
- Physical changes: This can include weight gain, hair loss, decreased muscle mass and increased breast size
- Cognitive difficulties: Difficulty concentrating or memory problems
- Decreased bone density: Low testosterone levels can lead to a decrease in bone density, which increases the risk of osteoporosis
And which symptoms are not so typical?
- Hot flushes and sweating: Similar to menopausal women
- Joint and muscle pain: similar to women
- Changes in body hair: loss or reduction
- Dry skin: skin may become drier and lose elasticity
- Digestive problems: changes in the digestive system, including constipation or diarrhoea
- Depression and anxiety: mood swings, including symptoms of depression and anxiety
- Irritability: more easily irritable or impatient
- Decreased self-confidence: lower self-confidence or self-esteem
- Loss of interest in daily activities: reduced interest in hobbies, work or social activities
All these symptoms are similar to the symptoms that women also complain about. The social taboo can be de-tabooed – and even more: made visible. Because one thing is clear: it is theoretically invisible. But not in practice, because millions of men go through it – without realising it. It’s unbelievable – and for me it’s clearly an issue of the patriarchal dilemma.
New ways of thinking and acting are required!
What can a man do when he realises: ‘Something is different…’?
- See a doctor: Preferably a doctor who works with functional medicine. They can assess the symptoms, carry out tests and recommend suitable treatment.
- Healthy diet: A balanced diet with vitamins, minerals and essential fats.
- Regular exercise: Physical activity helps to increase testosterone levels, improve mood and support overall health.
- Stress management: Meditation, yoga, breathing exercises
- Adequate sleep: A good night’s sleep is important for overall health
- Open communication: Reduce the stigma around andropause and get support from loved ones.
- Therapy or counselling: A therapist, coach or counsellor can help with the emotional and psychological effects of andropause
- Medical treatments: Hormone replacement therapies with bioidentical hormones can be very helpful. There are various options here. However, this should always be done under the supervision of a doctor.
It is not for nothing that some doctors have only recently felt called upon to address the topic of ‘change’ professionally – and to clear up and clarify traditional ways of thinking – be it with bioidentical hormones or with the age-old statement ‘You have to go through it now!’. There are still very few of them – which is why it is so important for me to shed light on this part of my clients in a holistic way – and to refer them to suitable experts.
Of course, these steps are very general – the personal ‘roadmap’ is of course very individual. What I do in this context is to take a very close look at each person. Not just the issues they bring with them, but also the ‘behind the scenes’. The topic of the menopause/andropause has often been ‘hidden’ behind the ‘actual’ topic – simply because people didn’t realise what was going on inside them. Of course, this does not mean that all issues have been resolved. This is about interaction and a 360-degree view.
And I’m very happy to help you with this – and to accompany you through it. We’ll talk about this in person first. And then we’ll get started.
I’m looking forward to it!
