Saturday, August 02, 2008

Testosterone therapy for men

Testosterone therapy: Can it help older men feel young again? According to MayoClinic.com (one of the Mayo Clinic's three main Web sites which provide health information and tools) the jury is still out on testosterone therapy for older men.
    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 the list of pros and cons when evaluating testosterone therapy that are included in the article.