diff --git a/internal/handlers/handlers.go b/internal/handlers/handlers.go
index df620d7..071429b 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/handlers.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/handlers.go
@@ -96,11 +96,15 @@ func (h *Handlers) UpdateMe(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
 		add("bio", strings.TrimSpace(*req.Bio))
 	}
 	if req.Gender != nil {
-		g := *req.Gender
-		if g != "m" && g != "f" && g != "o" {
-			return c.Status(fiber.StatusBadRequest).JSON(fiber.Map{"error": "gender must be m, f, o"})
+		g := strings.TrimSpace(*req.Gender)
+		if g == "" {
+			// пустая строка = NULL (не указан)
+			add("gender", nil)
+		} else if g != "m" && g != "f" && g != "o" {
+			return c.Status(fiber.StatusBadRequest).JSON(fiber.Map{"error": "gender must be m, f, o or empty"})
+		} else {
+			add("gender", g)
 		}
-		add("gender", g)
 	}
 	if req.PhotoURL != nil {
 		add("photo_url", strings.TrimSpace(*req.PhotoURL))