Dealing with hot flushes in men

Yes. Hot flushes, or hot flashes, do occur in men. Hot flushes are usually experienced by women, especially when going through menopause. It is rarer for men to experience this condition, but when it does occur it can coincide with symptoms such as erectile dysfunction, mood swings, and loss of libido.² Male hot flashes (also called hot flushes in men) are usually short-lived, and a male hot flush will usually last under five minutes.

“Male menopause” (also known as “andropause”) is a commonly used term for a collection of symptoms developed by some men in their late 40s or early 50s. Some men (although not all) experience symptoms such as anxiety, depression, loss of sex drive, and erectile dysfunction.³ Experiences such as these can really impact overall wellbeing and sense of self, so it is important to recognise male menopause symptoms and attempt to resolve them.

However, it is worth noting that calling such a syndrome “menopause for men” can be a little misleading, as it suggests that symptoms are related to hormonal changes in the body, as they are for women. But this is not the case, and researchers are not yet sure exactly why male menopause occurs in some men.

Hot flashes in men can be a result of medical reasons, such as low testosterone levels (also known as “low T”).⁴

But this is not the most common reason for male hot flashes: 80 percent of hot flashes in men occur due to androgen deprivation therapy, which is a treatment for prostate cancer.5 This treatment affects the production of testosterone. 

Another cause of male hot flashes in men is late-onset hypogonadism.⁶ Hypogonadism is a condition where the testes produce an abnormally low quantity of hormones. If hot flashes are a new symptom, it could be a result of the development of this disease later in life, which sometimes happens in men who are obese, or who have type 2 diabetes. This condition can be diagnosed by a doctor, but it is worth noting that it is a very unusual disease that is rarely the cause of male hot flashes.

However, if you are experiencing male hot flashes but do not have an unusual testosterone level, the underlying causes may not be medical. Some attribute hot flashes in men to stress, depression and anxiety, and it is certainly the case that hot flashes can make these problems even worse.

If you are not sure what the cause might be, it is worth arranging a visit to see your GP to discuss your symptoms. There are some things you can do to prevent how often you experience a male hot flash. These include:

If you are experiencing male hot flashes and fatigue, there are a few things you can do to alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms.