Andropause
Also called Male menopause, late-onset hypogonadism, age-related low testosterone
Andropause is a popular name, along with "male menopause," for the decline in testosterone that many men experience as they age. The comparison with menopause is widely regarded as inaccurate, because men do not go through the abrupt hormonal shift that women do: testosterone usually decreases gradually over years, and the symptoms linked to it are often vague.
Clinicians tend to use more precise terms. The one most often used is late-onset hypogonadism, which describes low testosterone in an older man together with symptoms that match it, rather than age-related decline on its own. Other names in use include testosterone deficiency and low T.
Why it matters after 45
Men in midlife meet the word in articles, ads and conversations long before they meet it in a clinic. How far age-related decline should be treated is still debated: treatment of late-onset hypogonadism remains controversial because of unclear indications, uncertain benefit and potential risks in older men. Knowing the clinical term makes it easier to separate an everyday label from a diagnosis.
Where it comes up
References
- Nandy PR, Singh DV, Madhusoodanan P, Sandhu AS. Male Andropause: A Myth or Reality. Medical Journal Armed Forces India, 2011. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4921612/
- Salonia A, Rastrelli G, Hackett G, et al. Paediatric and adult-onset male hypogonadism. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 2019. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6944317/
- Cleveland Clinic. Low Testosterone (Male Hypogonadism). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15603-low-testosterone-male-hypogonadism
- MedlinePlus. Aging Changes in Hormone Production. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/004000.htm
Definitions here are educational and are not medical advice. They explain what a term means; the pages linked above cover what it means for you, and a clinician reviews your own results. Editorial & medical review policy · All glossary terms