Contrary to the widespread stereotype about the stability of the male body, scientific research and clinical practice show that men are also susceptible to significant hormonal fluctuations. Although this condition is fundamentally different from female menstruation, its impact on a man's psyche and physical state can be no less palpable.
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Let's note right away: when we talk about menstruation in the classical biological sense, it is absent in cisgender men for obvious reasons — they do not have the corresponding organs. However, this does not mean, as Healthline writes, that a man's hormonal background is completely static.
Testosterone — the main male sex hormone — constantly fluctuates. Its level is usually higher in the morning and lower in the evening; it can also change even from day to day.
Some researchers argue that these hormonal fluctuations can cause symptoms that mimic premenstrual syndrome (PMS), including depression, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, and decreased libido.
Psychotherapist Jed Diamond, in his book of the same name, introduced the term "Irritable Male Syndrome" (IMS) to describe these fluctuations and the state they cause.
His concept is based on real examples of mammalian behavior described by Scottish researcher Gerald Lincoln in 2002. For example, Soay sheep exhibit a characteristic annual cycle: during the mating season in late autumn, testosterone levels surge dramatically, and with the onset of winter, they fall just as sharply.
During the period of hormone decline, the animals become nervous, withdrawn, and begin to behave irrationally. Similar patterns have been recorded in other fauna representatives: red deer and even Indian elephants.
Experts note that men also experience seasonal testosterone fluctuations (with a peak in November and a decrease in April), as well as age-related changes. After 30 years, hormone levels gradually decline. Andropause is specifically highlighted — a condition associated with gradual hormonal decline in middle-aged men.
IMS symptoms due to declining testosterone can resemble female PMS, but they do not follow a strict physiological pattern and can occur irregularly. They usually include: feeling of brain fog; depressive mood and anger; decreased self-esteem and emotional vulnerability.
Since Irritable Male Syndrome is not an official medical diagnosis, its "treatment" involves lifestyle adjustments. Healthy eating, physical exercise, giving up bad habits, and stress management help stabilize the condition.
However, if emotional instability or fatigue prevents you from living normally, you should consult an endocrinologist or psychotherapist.
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