Men's health (9)
- Belly fat in men: Why weight loss matters
- Men's health: Preventing your top 10 threats
- Testosterone therapy: Can it help older men feel young again?
- see all in Men's health
Men's sexual health (12)
- Penis-enlargement scams: You're more normal than you think
- Erectile dysfunction
- Healthy sperm: Improving your fertility
- see all in Men's sexual health
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Testosterone therapy: Can it help older men feel young again?
Some men are interested in testosterone therapy even if their testosterone levels are considered normal. Find out whether testosterone therapy could be helpful for you.
By Mayo Clinic staffThe possibilities of testosterone therapy are enticing — increase your muscle mass, sharpen your memory and mental focus, boost your libido, and improve your energy level. As you get older, testosterone therapy may sound like the ultimate anti-aging formula. But health benefits from testosterone therapy aren't quite so clear-cut.
Before you buy into the tempting claims, find out what's known — and not known — about testosterone therapy so that you can make the best decision for your long-term health.
What is testosterone?
Men's bodies produce the hormone testosterone in their testes. In men, testosterone helps maintain:
- Bone density
- Fat distribution
- Muscle mass
- Muscle strength
- Red blood cell production
- Sex drive
- Sperm production
Your doctor can prescribe a synthetic version of testosterone. Testosterone therapy using testosterone replacement medications may be necessary for men who have very low levels of testosterone (hypogonadism). Testosterone therapy medications are available as injections, patches and gels.
What happens to your testosterone level as you age?
Your body's testosterone level peaks during adolescence and early adulthood. Starting around age 40, your body produces less testosterone. For most men, testosterone levels decline modestly.
Does a naturally declining testosterone level cause the signs and symptoms of aging?
It's not clear that naturally falling testosterone levels cause any signs and symptoms in men. Studies of men who have very low levels of testosterone due to diseases and treatments may offer some clues to the role testosterone plays in a man's body as he ages. According to those studies, testosterone deficiency can have several effects on the body, including:
- Decreased sexual function
- Loss of bone density
- Loss of muscle mass
- Increase in fat mass
- Reduced muscle strength
- Memory loss
- Mood changes and depression
Some men experience these signs and symptoms, but don't have unusually low levels of testosterone. Others may have low levels of testosterone, but don't experience any signs and symptoms that would prompt them to seek treatment.
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