10 October 2023 , 09:34
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Shaun Ryder has said he was left "unable to speak" after going through what he described as male menopause.
The Happy Mondays star has said that Hormone Replacement Therapy has changed his life after he said he was "trying every drug around". The singer uses testosterone gel now to boost his libido and energy levels.
He has said he was "miserable" and if he misses any of his medication he goes "absolutely mental". Shaun said he found himself not being able to leave the house due to being so tired all of the time. He went for a routine blood test which showed his "testosterone levels were at zero".
Shaun uses testosterone gelHe told The Sun : "I was tired all the time, could barely be bothered leaving the house. My libido was gone and I was miserable. A routine blood test showed my testosterone levels were at zero."
Shaun then went on to explain that he really struggles if he forgets to use his gel: "I forgot to put on my testosterone gel, and as any woman who's gone through the menopause will know, if you forget your stuff you go absolutely mental. If I haven’t got my testosterone gel, I can’t speak. I can’t leave the house, I can’t make eye contact."
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While male menopause is not the medical term, it is used to describe when men's hormones decrease which can cause symptoms such as erectile dysfunction, depression, anxiety and rapid weight gain.
The condition is actually known as andropause which tends to be a more gradual change whereas menopause tends to be more sudden.
Shaun is no stranger to talking about his health - being open about his drug and alcohol issues when he was at the height of his fame. He has now been sober for 16 years and has not had a cigarette in eight.
Earlier in the year Shaun revealed that he used the controversial weight loss jab Ozempic to lose two stone in weight. The injection is intended to be used for type two diabetes, but some celebrities have been known to use it to suppress their appetite.
Shaun's weight went from 16 stone to 14 by injecting it into his stomach which he said has meant he can get back into cycling.