Does Testosterone Therapy Really Works?

Testosterone is undoubtedly the key male reproductive hormone that is responsible for many sexual and metabolic functions as well. Research and clinical data reports that many males have achieved remarkable improvement in bone mass, sexual libido, muscle mass and overall quality of life after obtaining testosterone replacement therapy in the setting of acquired hypogonadism. In fact, even women users have achieved improvement in mood and psychological symptoms after starting testosterone hormone. But is this a viable option? Let’s find out…

Does It Really Work?

Testosterone hormone therapy was first introduced in 1937 and was immediately perceived as a major breakthrough in the field of science. Today, testosterone therapy is available in form of patches, gels, creams and even in injectable forms. Although various research and clinical studies suggested that testosterone therapy can fix mood swings and depression symptoms in men and even help in regaining sexual drive and energy but it may not be beneficial for resolving erectile issues, especially if it is happening due to other medical conditions.

In women testosterone therapy may help in increasing sexual drive but overall it doesn’t have any advantageous effect in regulating normal physical health. Sometimes, vulva pain is treated with testosterone therapy but it is not a validated treatment. If you are suffering from persistent and gnawing vulvar pain, you should speak to your doctor to see if you are a likely candidate for testosterone therapy.

Testosterone Therapy: Side Effects In Men

Like any other hormonal treatment, testosterone therapy is also associated with potential side effects including

swelled ankles, development of tender breasts, high risk of developing blood clotting dysfunction (due to increased production of red blood cells) and other related issues. According to a new study reported in the peer reviewed scientific journal BMC Medicine (2) testosterone hormone therapy is also associated with an increased risk of developing heart diseases. Some studies support this association while others don’t. For example, according to a study reported in the medical journal Circulation (3), investigator suggested that low-dose testosterone therapy can reduce the risk of angina and ischemic heart diseases. However, regardless of this debate, FDA has made it compulsory for the manufacturers of testosterone drugs to disclose the increased risk of cardiovascular problems with their consumers.

Testosterone Therapy: Side Effects In Women

Testosterone therapy can lead to critical and often time serious metabolic issues in women because testosterone is converted into a female hormone leading to hormonal imbalances due to which women face many side effects including acne, growth of facial hairs and male pattern baldness. The imbalance in female hormone can also aggravate the risks for gynecological cancers therefore before starting testosterone replacement hormone therapy, women should get themselves examined for potential cancers or family history of certain illnesses. Despite the fact that FDA has not approved testosterone drugs for female use, it is still prescribed by doctors to address certain health issues in women.

Therapies Other Than Hormonal Analogues

Getting enough sleep and consuming a well-balanced diet can help in boosting the testosterone levels. In addition, it has also been observed that morbid obesity or being overweight can also reduce the testosterone levels in both men and women; therefore, losing weight and incorporating regular exercise in the daily regimen is very helpful. Other than this, acupuncture is also a great help.

Before going for testosterone therapy make sure whether you need it or not? Consult a doctor who is expert in sexual health and drugs.

References

1. Katznelson, L. A. U. R. E. N. C. E., Finkelstein, J. S., Schoenfeld, D. A., Rosenthal, D. I., Anderson, E. J., & Klibanski, A. N. N. E. (1996). Increase in bone density and lean body mass during testosterone administration in men with acquired hypogonadism. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 81(12), 4358-4365.

2. Xu, L., Freeman, G., Cowling, B. J., & Schooling, C. M. (2013). Testosterone therapy and cardiovascular events among men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomized trials. BMC medicine, 11(1), 1.

3. English, K. M., Steeds, R. P., Jones, T. H., Diver, M. J., & Channer, K. S. (2000). Low-Dose Transdermal Testosterone Therapy Improves Angina Threshold in Men With Chronic Stable Angina A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Circulation, 102(16), 1906-1911.

4. North American Menopause Society. (2005). The role of testosterone therapy in postmenopausal women: position statement of the North American Menopause Society. Menopause (New York, NY), 12(5), 496.