With age comes wisdom — and hormonal changes.
Conan O’Brien found that out after an unexpected exchange revealed a surprising reason behind a shift he’d noticed in himself.
Andropause — often dubbed “male menopause” or “manopause” — describes the age-related decline in testosterone levels that many men experience later in life. Unlike the drastic hormonal drop women experience during menopause, the transition in men typically happens gradually and often goes unnoticed.
Not for O’Brien.
The comedian and former late-night host opened up about the moment he realized one of the effects of aging may have been tied to his changing testosterone levels.
In a recent episode of his podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,” the 63-year-old recalled telling his late mother-in-law, Pamela Powel, that he’d been feeling “wiser” and “less intense” compared to his 20s, 30s and 40s, when he felt “very intense and very driven.”
“I think I’m maturing,” he told her, adding that Powel, a psychoanalytic therapist, was “an expert in these matters.”
“And she just said, ‘No, no, no. Your testosterone level has just dropped.”
“I was trying to credit it all to wisdom,” continued O’Brien. “And she was like, ‘No, no, no. You just have less of that asshole juice running through your body.’”
While testosterone is often viewed as the ultimate biological driver of masculinity, vitality and sex drive, its decline is commonly — and narrowly — associated with changes like reduced libido, erectile dysfunction and losing muscle.
But experts say the hormone can affect much more than physical traits. Reduced motivation and changes in mood, focus and emotional response can also be signs of declining testosterone.
“There’s a misconception that testosterone is only about libido and muscle mass,” Dr. Hal Mohammed, MD, Men’s Health Chief Medical Officer at Gameday, a nationwide network of men’s health clinic, told the Post. “But it definitely influences drive, competitiveness, assertiveness and emotional reactivity.”
Mohammed, a board-certified internal medicine physician specializing in hormone optimization and men’s health, treats many men in high stress fields, including sales and finance, for low testosterone at the Gameday Flat Iron location in Manhattan.
As for whether testosterone is behind O’Brien’ more moderate motivation, Mohammed cautioned against attributing a personality switch entirely to hormones.
The comedian could also be experiencing personal growth from life experience, while an aging-related testosterone deficiency may be “quietly stealing their edge.”
“The short answer is that it can influence energy, libido, some aspects of behavior — but it doesn’t define who someone is,” he explained. “Changes in personality are more about life experience, health, environment.”
About five million men in the US are estimated to have low testosterone, with natural production decreasing about 1% per year after age 30.
By age 70, some men report up to a 50% reduction compared to peak levels.
Testosterone deficiency affects 30-40% of men by the time they hit their 40s or 50s, Dr. Pete Stahl, Head of Men’s Health at Hims, previously told The Post. Levels can decline more quickly in men with chronic illnesses or certain health conditions, especially obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
“Some men feel the effects as early as their 30s or 40s, while others maintain healthy levels well into old age,” said Stahl.
The effects of andropause can have broader implications for men’s health and longevity, impacting everything from work and relationships to confidence and overall well-being. Low testosterone has also been linked to health concerns including diabetes risk, fractures, anemia and cardiovascular issues.
Treating testosterone deficiency is a multistep process that involves addressing the underlying cause, prescribing medications that boost testosterone production or using testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
“The truth is that identifying and treating testosterone deficiency is an integral part of men’s healthcare,” advised Stahl.
“For a man with symptoms and low testosterone, restoring his levels to a healthy range can have a tremendous impact on his quality of life and healthspan.”
