Male Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy is a bit of a misnomer. It’s natural for men’s testosterone levels to decrease as they get older. So, hormone therapy doesn’t replace anything that is naturally missing.

Testosterone is required for:

male sexual development
reproductive function
building muscle bulk
maintaining healthy levels of red blood cells
maintaining bone density

However, the natural decrease of this hormone in men typically doesn’t affect overall health any more than the aging process does. Medical experts disagree about the significance of a testosterone level decrease. They also disagree about the health benefits of hormone therapy use to combat the natural aging process in men, especially given the risks.

For use in certain men

Some men with unnaturally low levels of testosterone can benefit from hormone therapy. For example, the condition hypogonadism can cause unnaturally low levels of testosterone. It’s a dysfunction of the testicles that prevents the body from producing the right amount of testosterone.

What’s less certain is whether testosterone therapy can benefit healthy men whose testosterone decline is simply caused by aging. This has been a difficult question for researchers to answer. Not many studies have observed the effects of testosterone therapy in men with healthy levels of the hormone. The studies that have were smaller and had unclear results.

Types of hormone therapy for men

If your doctor suggests testosterone therapy, several options are available. These include:

Intramuscular testosterone injections: Your doctor will inject these into the muscles of your buttocks every two to three weeks.
Testosterone patches: You apply these each day to your back, arms, buttocks, or abdomen. Be sure to rotate the application sites.
Topical testosterone gel: You apply this each day to your shoulders, arms, or abdomen.

Risks of testosterone therapy

Side effects are a primary drawback of hormone therapy with testosterone. While some of the side effects are relatively minor, others are more serious.

Minor potential side effects of hormone therapy with testosterone include:

fluid retention
acne
increased urination

More severe potential side effects include:

breast enlargement
decreased testicle size
worsening of existing sleep apnea
increased cholesterol levels
decreased sperm count
infertility
increased number of red blood cells

An increased number of red blood cells can cause:

muscle pain
high blood pressure
blurry vision
chest pain
blood clots in your blood vessels

Talk with your doctor

Hormone therapy can be a helpful treatment for men with unnaturally low levels of testosterone. However, it doesn’t come without risks. These risks may outweigh the benefits if you’re considering hormone therapy to make up for a natural decrease in testosterone levels.

Talk with your doctor about safer alternatives. Resistance exercise can help you build muscle mass, and walking, running, and swimming can help keep your heart strong.

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