Robbie Williams’ ‘manopause crisis’ puts male ageing in the spotlight

Robbie Williams’ claim he has hit “manopause” has divided opinions, with one Adelaide expert suggesting the pop star should stick to singing.

Men of a certain age may have to come to terms with loss — of testosterone, hair, libido, strength, speed, balance, sleep patterns, memory, even of their masculine identity — as rock star Robbie Williams has lamented, saying he has hit “manopause.”

However, Professor Gary Wittert says manopause is a myth and Robbie Williams should stick to singing and leave men’s health to the experts.

“There is no such thing … it never existed,” Prof Wittert told The Advertiser.

Robbie Williams says he is going through “manopause.” Picture: Instagram

Prof Wittert is a professor of medicine at the University of Adelaide and director of Australia’s largest men’s health research centre, The Freemasons Centre for Male and Health and Wellbeing at SAMHRI.

“If men stay fit and healthy their testosterone barely changes over the lifespan,” Prof Wittert said.

“Robbie Williams may be a great singer but take what he says with a pinch of salt about medical matters.”

Williams, who will turn 50 in February, blames his partying for leaving him “f … ing knackered.”

“The hair is thinning, the testosterone has left the building, the serotonin is not really here and the dopamine said goodbye a long time ago,” he moaned.

Flinders University sport, health and physical activity expert Professor Murray Drummond cautiously says “ ‘manopause’ is a thing” but stresses it is not as drastic as female menopause and should not be compared to the female ageing process.

Flinders University sport, health and physical activity expert Professor Murray Drummond, now is his mid-50s, stays active in sport, urges older men to weight train for strength — and to stay off ladders.

“For men ageing brings a reduction in testosterone which means after 50 there’s a drop in strength, power and musculature,” Prof Drummond said, noting he is in his mid-50s but still stays active in sport.

“Things we thought we could do easily suddenly become difficult.

“Men feel worthy when they can do something like play sport or get on the roof to clean the gutters for their family — ‘doing’ masculinity rather than being masculine.

“If you lose that, part of your masculine identity is taken away.

“It’s a physical element but manifests as emotional and mental health elements. When you were young you were bullet proof and it suddenly starts to be taken away, and men often suffer in silence which is a key issue.

“So while not as drastic as menopause there are significant issues men have to face with ageing in losing strength and physicality and coming to terms with it.”

Prof Drummond has some positive news — and a warning.

“Weight training is the key to all this,” he said. “If men want to be active as they age they have to be strong, strength is the key, so get into the weight training.

“And men of a certain age should stay off ladders. Pay someone young to get up there.”