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Testosterone Therapy: Good Idea or Not?
You’ve likely heard the term Low-T or seen an
advertisement talking about how testosterone
declines as men age and how the solution is taking
a testosterone replacement. What it promises may
seem appealing, including increased libido and muscle
mass, but what’s the whole story? Does it come with
health risks?
Each birthday after 30 means a decrease in
testosterone levels by approximately 1 percent.
That means by age 60 your testosterone level will be
about 30% lower than what it was when you were a
young man. You’ve heard of menopause for women?
Andropause is what men experience—a natural,
slow decline in testosterone levels. Sometimes, the
decrease is fast, causing legitimate concerns.
Symptoms of Low-T include hair loss, fatigue,
low semen production, lowered sex drive, erectile
dysfunction, hot flashes, infertility, loss of muscle
and bone mass, mood swings and increased body fat.
These changes can naturally occur with aging, but if
you are an older man and are experiencing many of
these all at once, it may be time to see your doctor.
Some men see testosterone replacement as a fountain
of youth—a way to reverse typical results of aging and
make them feel young and virile once again. While
it may seem cut and dry that you should replace
the testosterone you lose as you age, it’s not. There
are unwanted side effects, such problems sleeping,
decreased sperm production, and enlarged breasts.
But it’s not only side effects that should make
you think twice. Studies on the safety of taking
testosterone supplements are not conclusive. Some
studies have found that it raises your risk for not only
heart attacks but stroke and deep vein thrombosis
as well. Others show that taking testosterone
supplements might increase your risk for prostate
cancer. Other studies show these claims to be false.
There are legitimate reasons to treat Low-T, including
a fairly common condition known as hypogonadism.
Hypogonadism simply means the testes stop
producing testosterone at adequate levels. Three
million men each year in the U.S. have this condition.
Certain conditions can cause hypogonadism, including
radiation exposure, infections, liver and kidney
disease and autoimmune disorders, genetic disorders,
and more.
Another reason may be male infertility, if you
and your partner are trying to get pregnant. Male
infertility is responsible for approximately a third of
the cases of infertility among couples.
If you suspect you might have Low-T that is outside
what’s expected as you age, talk with our doctor.
The only way to check for Low-T is a blood test.
Sometimes, the solution is not added testosterone,
but an increase in your iron intake. Low iron can
affect your testosterone levels. Practice caution before
taking a nutritional supplement to increase your
testosterone.
If your doctor does prescribe testosterone replacement
therapy, you’ve got choices. You can get your needed
dose by wearing a patch, applying gel, sucking on a
lozenge or getting an injection.
Testosterone replacement therapy is not something
you should decide upon lightly. Check with your
doctor first to see if it’s right for you.
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