All men have decreased testosterone as they age, so it’s important to distinguish between normal lowered levels and abnormally lowered levels. This is because testosterone replacement therapy can has negative side effects, so most experts agree that it should be reserved for cases where the benefits outweigh the negatives.
Because of the natural role of testosterone in the body, testosterone deficiencies lead to a decrease in lean muscle mass, an increase in body fat and osteoporosis and other bone issues. Testosterone deficiencies also often show as problems with erectile function, decreased energy, moodiness, depression and memory issues.
So, it’s not enough to simply look at the levels of testosterone present in the system, but also to look at what symptoms are manifesting in the body and which symptoms need to be treated. Additionally, possible candidates need to be screened so that side effects don’t harm them. For example, since one of the side effects of testosterone replacement therapy has to do with problems with the prostate, it’s important that men with a high risk of prostate cancer, with prostate cancer or with a history of prostate cancer do not use testosterone replacement therapy. Sources: |
