Replacement Therapy Available for Testosterone Deficiency

Women may be well informed about estrogen replacement after menopause, but it's a little known fact that men suffering from age-related testosterone depletion can benefit from replacement therapy.

As a man ages, testosterone levels tend to flatten out and begin to decrease over time, which can lead to menopause-like symptoms including mood swings, decreased sex drive, fatigue, muscle and bone loss and even hot flashes in some men. The condition is known as hypogonadism.

In the February issue of the UT Lifetime Health Letter, Dr. Philip Orlander, director of the endocrinology division at The University of Texas-Houston Medical School, says that men experiencing these symptoms should get a blood test to assess their testosterone level, and to learn what's causing it. Tumors of the pituitary gland or chronic illnesses can also lower testosterone levels.

The good news is that testosterone replacement therapy can help. Dr. Orlander says the hormone is administered either by intramuscular injections, or with a transdermal patch, cream, or gel. Injections are cheaper, but they result in very high testosterone levels for several days, followed by below normal levels before the next dose. Transdermal patches are up to 10 times more expensive, but they provide more natural hormone levels.

Replacement therapy improves mood and energy levels, as well as sexual arousal and enjoyment, and increases bone mass. Dr. Orlander warns that it is not a cure for impotence.

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Courtesy of Texas Medical Center News

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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URL: http://www.tmc.edu/health_briefs/04_01_99-testosterone.html