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Testosterone therapy: Can it help older men feel young again?
What could testosterone therapy do for men with normal testosterone levels?
Some men believe that taking testosterone medications may help them feel younger and more vigorous as they age. But while studies show that testosterone therapy can restore your testosterone level to that of your youth, it isn't clear that there's any benefit to this. And it isn't clear if a higher testosterone level can help you live longer.
Few rigorous studies have examined testosterone therapy in men with healthy testosterone levels. Some small studies have revealed unclear results. For instance, studies found that healthy men who take testosterone medications saw their muscle mass increase, but in most studies the men weren't any stronger after testosterone therapy.
What are the risks of testosterone therapy?
Not enough study has been done to determine the risks of testosterone therapy in men with normal testosterone levels. In theory, a higher than normal testosterone level could increase a man's risk of prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia). But studies haven't determined whether testosterone therapy could cause these complications.
Studies show testosterone therapy can cause sleep apnea in some men. This condition causes you to continually start and stop breathing as you sleep. Testosterone therapy may also cause your body to make too many red blood cells (polycythemia), which can increase your risk of heart disease.
Consider these pros and cons when evaluating testosterone therapy:
| Potential benefits | Potential risks |
|---|---|
|
|
Should you talk to your doctor about testosterone therapy?
If you're concerned that you might have a hormone deficiency, talk to your doctor. A decline in testosterone that falls below normal values may be a reason to take supplemental testosterone. There is some controversy about whether testosterone therapy should be used in men who have naturally lower testosterone levels as a result of aging. It remains unclear whether restoring the testosterone levels to those of youth benefits older men.
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