Testosterone Replacement For Men: Probably A Good Idea

Health Tips / Testosterone Replacement For Men: Probably A Good Idea

It’s an interesting phenomenon that more women ask about testosterone therapy for the men in their lives than men ask for themselves. And when a man does ask, the question is usually couched with hesitations, “Uh, my…wife wanted me to…uh…ask about…you know…testosterone.”

There are good reasons for hesitation. For men, the symptoms of age-related testosterone decline are nothing as dramatic as menopause symptoms are for women: hot flashes on and off all day, night sweats that drench bed sheets and interrupt sleep, brain fog, sex a distant reminiscence, aging skin, vaginal dryness. And then, magic! Once the proper dose of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is reached, everything vanishes. If you’re unfamiliar with BHRT, these are sex hormones made from substances (soybeans and the inedible Mexican wild yam) that are molecularly identical to the hormones made in the ovary of a woman. BHRT is totally different from the conventionally prescribed Premarin or Prempro, produced from the concentrated urine of caged pregnant mares. If you have concerns about your karma, realize that Premarin is right up there with sealskin boots and ivory chess sets.

If asked directly by their physicians (men rarely volunteer this stuff), men low on testosterone—or T, as it’s called in sales vernacular–report a drop in interest in sex, sad-looking erections, mood issues (“grumpy old men”), an increase in potbelly and love handle fat, and, despite regular exercise, muscles that grow flabbier by the day. Yet many of these symptoms can be dramatically improved when testosterone levels are returned from pathetic back to macho.

Testosterone myths
It’s useful to clear the air about testosterone myths and half-truths, especially if you’re a man with symptoms or you’re living with a guy who’s beginning to get on your nerves.

Myth #1: heart disease  There was a large kerfuffle with much publicity after a 2013 study published in JAMA reported increased heart disease risks among testosterone users. Days after the study was published, readers and researchers wrote letters pointing out that the study’s arithmetic was faulty. JAMA published a new version, this time with the correct math, which showed that heart disease risk was reduced by 50% among men using testosterone.

The latest research is now showing that:

  • Low testosterone is linked to increased coronary artery disease and that when testosterone levels are restored to normal, cardiovascular disease deaths are reduced by 50%.
  • Exercise capacity among men with known heart disease who are taking testosterone is much better than among men receiving a placebo.
  • There is uniform improvement in heart disease risk factors (fat mass, waist circumference, pre-diabetes indicators) among men taking testosterone vs. placebo.

Myth #2: prostate cancer  Just as the Women’s Health Initiative years ago incorrectly concluded that hormone replacement therapy caused breast cancer (it does not), the myth that testosterone replacement causes prostate cancer (it does not) has hung on. Based on an opinion about a single patient, it has never been confirmed in long-term studies using large numbers of patients. What is true is that sex hormones–whether estrogen for women or testosterone for men–can hasten the growth of existing breast and prostate cancers.

This is why women are screened with a mammogram and men with a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test before being prescribed hormones. The PSA test can be useful as a baseline when tracking testosterone use. If it starts out normal and suddenly shoots skyward with testosterone, the testosterone is stopped.

Myth #3: T is overprescribed because of pharmaceutical advertising  Actually, the opposite is true. Levels aren’t measured during routine exams and testing is virtually never suggested by primary care physicians. Too many doctors, their brains hard-wired into the faulty testosterone/heart risk association, discourage both testing and prescribing. In addition, because testosterone is seriously overpriced, insurance companies make every effort to deny coverage. Many insurance companies actually request your testosterone test results to verify that your level is low enough to merit a prescription.

If anything, in my view, testosterone is under-utilized. A lot of men are missing out on a valuable therapy that has the potential to benefit their overall quality of life and reduce some significant health risks.

Bioidentical testosterone
All available supplemental testosterone is bioidentical. The products come as skin creams or injections, and both are effective though clearly a skin cream is easier to use. If you’re interested, ask your doctor to measure your testosterone level (get a PSA to test your prostate status at the same time). WholeHealth Chicago patients can call, scheduling a lab-only and asking for “testosterone levels and PSA.”

If your testosterone level is low, you can start with a T-raising herbal blend called Testosterone Formula or (if your PSA is normal) schedule a brief physician visit and get a testosterone prescription. If your insurance company won’t pick up the tab, don’t despair. Virtually identical products are available from compounding pharmacies at about 25% of the Big Pharma price.

We try to bring your testosterone level to about what it was when you were 25 or so. Think you can live with that?

Be well,
David Edelberg, MD

13 thoughts on “Testosterone Replacement For Men: Probably A Good Idea

    Hi Sheenah
    That’s a tough question since every country has it’s own rules about prescription drugs.

    Dr E
    Posted April 19, 2016 at 9:44 pm

      Many Thanks for that Dr E – I will look into it.
      I love your really interesting blogs on your website.
      Love Sheenah

      Sheenah Wallis
      Posted April 21, 2016 at 6:56 am

    Hi Dr Edelburg
    Sheenah from England here. I wish you lived near me!! How would someone from England get hold of Bio identical testosterone – for my husband of 68 yrs – is it available from an online pharmacy? Many thanks!

    Sheenah Wallis
    Posted April 19, 2016 at 5:52 am

    Is bio identical hormone therapy appropriate for women in their sixties who have clearly gone through the worst of menopause withoit hormones but could still use some “support”? Thank you.

    Laurel Smith
    Posted March 28, 2016 at 8:52 am

      Yes, depending upon your circumstances it can be. Have a conversation with your PCP to determine if you have any contraindications to bioidentical hormone therapy.

      Dr. R
      Posted March 28, 2016 at 9:03 am

    Hi
    On the plus side, testosterone from a compounding pharmacy isn’t insanely overpriced, like the ones from Big Pharma–probably on the order of $50-75 a month. On the minus side, because testosterone was abused by athletes, the FDA classified it as a “controlled drug” which means it must have a doctor’s prescription. Although the rules vary from state to state, if you mailed a prescription to a compounder, you’d likely be able to get it mailed to you

    Dr E
    Posted March 27, 2016 at 12:36 pm

    What about androgen 1.62, so you have a preference? Mine blood test is t serum 218my/dl, free testosterone 8.7pg/ml. My insurance won’t cover it and I feel like I’m 100 years old and I’m 38, I will pay out of pocket to feel 25 Dr.E, can I buy it online full price, I’m getting frustrated. By the way my psa was 0.4. Don’t know what any of this means.

    John Walker
    Posted March 26, 2016 at 5:24 pm

    What if you have heart failure and are on dialysis? Is testosterone still safe?

    W Ballard
    Posted March 24, 2016 at 4:06 pm

      W Ballard. This would seem like an unnecessary risk with the little you’ve shared regarding your health. You need to speak with the doctor who holds your complete health picture and could help you make some decisions about what’s right for you.

      Dr. R
      Posted March 26, 2016 at 5:09 pm

    I currently have a prescription for Androgel, but my insurance company made it more difficult this year to get it covered. How do I find a compounding pharmacy to fill my prescription and would the dosing be the same as for the Androgel?

    Gage M.
    Posted March 22, 2016 at 11:26 am

    I would be interested in reading about the herbal blend called Testosterone Formula….the link to this is not functioning. Thanks.

    Ron Benninga
    Posted March 22, 2016 at 8:54 am

      Ron. Thanks for letting us know about the broken link. It is now fixed. Here is the link as well. https://store.wholehealthchicago.com/shop/testosterone-formula/

      Dr. R
      Posted March 22, 2016 at 9:58 am

    Interesting article. As a woman who went through several fertility treatments (IUI, IVF, Lupron) that resulted in health issues (huge ovarian cyst, huge goiter, with no prior history), I am leery of any hormonal treatments now for women or men. Is this just an irrational fear? Your article seems to answer “yes.”

    K
    Posted March 22, 2016 at 8:05 am

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