Fw: For Men Only

[Guest guest]

A minority of older men have significantly low testosterone levels

Although men don’t go through the dramatic menopausal changes that often

accompany a rapid decline in the production of female sex hormones, blood levels

of the male sex hormone, testosterone, also decline with increasing age, albeit

more gradually. While the majority of older men maintain adequate blood levels

of testosterone, by age 70 about 30 percent of them have low testosterone levels

(less than 300 ng/dL), referred to as hypogonadism.

Manifestations of hypogonadism

I recently saw a TV ad that urged men to get their testosterone levels checked

for all the wrong reasons: low energy, fatigue, and diminished strength and

vigor. These symptoms, which may accompany hypogonadism, are not uncommon among

healthy older men. Loss of libido (sexual interest and drive) and sexual

dysfunction are more specific manifestations of hypogonadism. Erectile

dysfunction accompanies low testosterone levels but can result from a number of

other causes such a diminished blood flow due to atherosclerotic narrowing of

arteries. Another common result of hypogonadism is a decline in bone mineral

density that can increase the risk of fractures. Loss of muscle mass and

strength are additional features of hypogonadism, but they are also common in

older men with normal testosterone levels. Men with real symptoms of sexual

dysfunction should see their doctor for a test of blood testosterone, the only

definitive way to make the diagnosis or hypogonadism. And the diagnosis requires

more than a single low value because of inaccuracies in the blood tests for

testosterone.

Benefits of hormone replacement for men with hypogonadism

In men with low testosterone, replacement brings modest improvements in libido

and erectile problems. In addition, bone mineral density increases, though no

studies have shown a lowering of spine or hip fractures. Testosterone

replacement also diminishes fat accumulation and increases muscle mass. The

reduction in body fat may improve response to insulin and thus lessen the risk

of diabetes. Some research trials have shown that the increased muscle mass is

associated with enhanced strength, but many others have not found an increase in

strength.

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FYI,

Lottie Duthu