MEN'S HEALTH
Testosterone Therapy
in the Balance
Experts reweigh the benefits against the
risks of hormone therapy for "Low-T"
An aging Baby Boomer population
fueled the rise of testosterone hormone
therapy for men seeking an antidote to
flagging sex drive and overall vitality. But
recent research and an FDA heart health
warning may be hastening its decline.
RISING PHARMACEUTICAL STAR
From 2000 up until about 2013, testosterone
replacement therapy (TRT)
medicine unexpectedly rocketed
from millions to billions in sales.
Many agree that a primary driver of
this rise was advertising aimed at a
large group of aging males focused
on maintaining their level of youthful
activity into their golden years—
perhaps more so than any prior
generation.
“Low-T” (low levels of testosterone)
became an increasingly prevalent
diagnosis—and self-diagnosis—for a
range of symptoms including fatigue,
depression and sexual dysfunction.
More doctors recommended TRT,
and more patients began to request
it. The data supports its effectiveness
for patients with low levels of
the hormone. Energy levels, sex drive
and function, muscle mass and bone
density can all be improved with TRT.
But although TRT is recommended
only for men with a medical condition
that lowers testosterone levels—
and not for men with the normal
decline in hormone levels associated
with aging—it is suspected that a
sizable percentage of patients have
been prescribed therapy without a
clear indication of need. One study
found that a quarter of new users
received prescriptions without their
hormone levels even being tested.
When its use nearly doubled between
2009 and 2013, the Institute of
Medicine urged new clinical trials in
a comprehensive effort to investigate
the effectiveness and possible harm
TRT might bring. Thus, the Testosterone
Trials were initiated by the
National Institute on Aging (NIA).
20 COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE DIGEST • OCT–DEC 2018 | WWW.CHDIGEST.COM
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