Testosterone Replacement Therapy: Risks Vs Benefits

Testosterone therapy has been shown to have many positive benefits for men and women diagnosed with low testosterone. However, as with any medical treatment, testosterone replacement therapy, also has some possible side effects.

We take an objective and comprehensive look at the benefits versus the risks, of taking testosterone.

What Are the Positive Benefits of Testosterone Therapy?

For many years now, testosterone replacement therapy has been used to treat aging men who are suffering with age-related testosterone decline, also known as low testosterone or “low-T.”

There have been many clinical studies that have documented the positive effect that testosterone therapy has on:

• Muscle tone
• Stamina
• Bone density
• Cognitive function

There have also been recent studies that have indicated that testosterone therapy improves sleep, improves sexual function, and can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. A 2017 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) concluded:

“Among men with low testosterone, prescription testosterone therapy was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular incidents.”

Recently, researchers from the prestigious Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, in association with a dozen other well-respected medical centers nationwide, conducted seven clinical trials in partnership with the National Institute on Aging, to determine the value of testosterone replacement therapy for aging men. Collectively, in studies that were published last year, the researchers concluded that, “The trials showed an improvement in all the aspects of sexual function and overall mood.”

What Are the Potential Risks of Testosterone Therapy?

These very recent studies are good news for men considering testosterone therapy. Testosterone therapy is only available with a doctor’s prescription, and like any prescription medication, it does have some possible side effects. A particular emphasis must be placed on that word, “possible.” As you know, if you have ever seen a drug commercial on TV, often more than half of the ad is spent on a laundry list of “potential side effects.” This is because by law, drug companies are required to disclose any side-effect — even if it is exceedingly rare — that may have occurred during the testing phase of the drug. Once any drug is approved by the FDA, it is “generally regarded as safe.”

Some reported, though rare, side effects of testosterone include:

• Rash or inflammation at the injections site
• Swelling of breasts
• Disturbed sleep
• Acne or other skin problems
• An increase in the production of red blood cells, which can lead to clots

It was once believed that testosterone replacement therapy could increase a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer, however, current research has largely disproved this link. In fact, the latest research indicates that testosterone therapy may actually decrease your risk of developing some cancers.

Risks Versus Benefits of Testosterone Replacement

Abraham Morgentaler, MD, is one of the world’s foremost experts on the benefits of testosterone therapy versus its risks. Morgentaler is the director of Men’s Health Boston and author of the book, Testosterone for Life: Recharge Your Vitality, Sex Drive, Muscle Mass, and Overall Health.

Morgentaler believes that the many benefits of testosterone therapy outweigh any of the potential risks. "Today, we recognize, based on dozens of studies, its importance relative to health issues such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and osteoporosis." Morgentaler says.

Morgentaler has gone on to say, that testosterone therapy not only plays a significant role in improving the overall health of aging men with low-T, it may even contribute to living longer. “Studies have shown that men with low-T die sooner than men with normal levels of testosterone," he says.

Morgentaler finds treating men with low testosterone very rewarding because he knows that testosterone therapy improves lives. "This is one of the very few areas of medicine where a male patient will come to you and say, ‘You made me feel like myself again,’"

So now that you know that in most cases the many positive benefits of testosterone therapy outweigh the risks, why not contact us today and find out if testosterone therapy is right for you?