HEALTH RISKS OF LOW TESTOSTERONE

Nearly 40% of men 45 years old and older are severely low in testosterone.  The consequences of not correcting this deficiency are serious.  Men with significant deficiencies are at 70% greater risk of death, according to a study done on veterans over the age of 40.

Even more surprising, is that about 25% of younger men who are 30 - 45 years old are also low in testosterone.

Signs of Low Testosterone

Most men do not notice the initial drop in their testosterone levels.  The decline begins in the early twenties and happens so gradually that most men get used to it. 

The exact changes vary considerably from male to male.  They rarely begin with sexual dysfunction.  They usually do not show up as a dip in sexual desire or erectile dysfunction. 

Partners are often the first to notice more subtle signs.  These men may be more grumpy or not as playful.  They may get irritated at small things that previously did not bother them.  In summary, they’re just not themselves.    

At work, co-workers may notice that they have less enthusiasm for challenges.  They seem to take on challenges with a sense of duty or worse--with boredom.  They are less energetic, usually gaining weight around the middle, and are beginning to look older.

From Their Perspective

For men with dropping testosterone, other people may appear to be the problem.  Their partners make unreasonable demands.  Subordinates appear less competent--or so competent that they wonder if they’re no longer needed.

Most men admit that they aren’t quite 100%.  They are putting in more effort on their workouts and not getting the same results.  It takes them longer to recover from a golf weekend with their buddies.

Most of these men have been told by their primary care doctor that they are ‘normal’ and ‘healthy’.   Yet a May, 2008 study in Archives of Internal Medicine, found nearly 90% of men with low testosterone are inadequately treated by their doctors.

Therapy

Most men feel their best with blood levels of total testosterone around 800 ng/dL.  The symptoms of low testosterone usually become noticeable as levels drift below 500, although replacement isn’t usually considered until levels are lower.  Below 300 ng/dL, quality of life declines significantly and major disease risk begins to escalate.

Depending on the age of the man, treatment may include stimulating the brain to send a message to the testes to make more testosterone or stimulating the testes directly.  If the man is not a candidate for either of these therapies, their testosterone is replaced--often using a gel he rubs onto his arms and torso every day.  Blood tests results are monitored to make sure levels stay in the range of what produces optimal health.

Safety

The biggest questions surrounding testosterone replacement have been:  Will it increase the risk of prostate cancer?  What are its side effects?  Will it create more aggressive behavior? 

Extensive studies done both in the United States and Europe confirm the long-term safety of using testosterone to correct a deficiency.  For example, the February 2008 Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported the results of 18 studies done on over 10,000 men.   They concluded that there is absolutely no association between prostate cancer risk and testosterone.