Is the ‘manopause’ real? 

For years, some men have described themselves as going through a ‘manopause’ when their bodies and emotions change gradually with age. 

Although it is not an official condition, Trinity Professor Luke O’Neill said it is certainly true that men undergo hormonal changes as they get older. 

“As men age, their testosterone does drop - it’s 1% a year,” he explained on The Pat Kenny Show. 

“Unlike in a woman where you get a massive plummet of oestrogen. 

“So, testosterone levels are falling as a man ages.” 

When asked whether this phenomenon could accurately be described as a ‘manopause’, Professor O’Neill replied, “Not really”. 

However, there is a far more serious medical condition called hypogonadism that a minority of men are diagnosed with. 

“They’re men whose testicles - which is where you make most of your testosterone - can’t make enough testosterone,” Professor O’Neill explained. 

“They show mood problems, lack of libido, muscle mass change - they’re the ones you want to look at and give Testosterone Replacement Treatment. 

“It’s HRT for men.” 

Women 

There are only a handful of species in the world where females go through menopause - of which humans are one. 

Professor O’Neill said scientists “still don’t fully know” why women stop being able to have children as they age. 

However, it might have something to do with childcare. 

“There’s good evidence that the grandmother can help with the grandchild,” Professor O’Neill said. 

“A grandmother or an aunt or an elder relative can help with the offspring and that may be why menopause kicked in.” 

Killer whales and short finned pilot whales also go through menopause. 

Research by marine biologists into these species has found that younger whales are more successful mothers.  

“The older whale, the grandmother shall we say, with her offspring, that offspring is less likely to survive than her daughter’s offspring, her grandoffspring," Professor O’Neill said. 

“That tells us that maybe evolution said, ‘It’s a bit wasteful’ if biologically for the grandmother to have an offspring. 

“It turns out, the grandmother is in competition for food and resources in the environment. 

“So, maybe evolution said, ‘Why don’t we let the grandmother now not have anymore whales and the grandmother can help with the daughter’s whales.’”

Main image: Luke O'Neill in the Newstalk studio.