Doctors ‘push manopause myth to cash in on sex fear’

doctors are pushing the myth of a widespread ‘male menopause’ to cash in on the sexual performance fears of middle-aged men, a leading medical consultant has warned.

Dr Richard Quinton said there was no ‘andropause’ or ‘manopause’ and 98 per cent of men continue to produce the male sex hormone testosterone throughout their lives.

The consultant endocrinologist at Newcastle University Hospital said that, unlike the female menopause, which affects all women, only ‘2 per cent’ of men will suffer a shutdown of testosterone.

He said: ‘When you hear Harley Street testosterone prescribers say, “Ah, andropause, that’s 40 per cent of older men”. That’s… complete drivel, driven by market forces.’

Private clinics are offering testosterone replacement therapy, claiming it will restore sexual desire and treat erectile dysfunction and depression. Prescriptions

‘It’s drivel, driven by market forces’

on the NHS rose 20 per cent from 2012 to 2016 and costs it £20million a year.

Dr Quinton branded private GPs offering the male sex hormone therapy ‘testosteronistas’ who were pushing ‘disreputable’ statistics about the male menopause.

But he said there was a group of frail men who would benefit from additional testosterone – those with anaemia. A study found one in five was producing zero testosterone but they were not being helped.

Dr Quinton told the British Science Festival in Hull: ‘We’ve got these men who through old age or a genetic problem have a real deficiency in testosterone who are not getting treatment.

‘And simultaneously we know men having maybe a minor sexual issue, having a random blood test and given testosterone they really didn’t need at all.’

Celebrities who take testosterone injections include the singer Robbie Williams.

His wife Ayda revealed on Loose Women that his testosterone levels were like that of ‘an 80-year-old man’ but the injections cured him of depression.