Low-t Controversy

Many people are inundated with ads asking them if they can benefit from testosterone therapy while many of those same people are also inundated with ads asking them if they have been harmed by androgel (or similar medications), a medicine commonly used therapeutically to raise the testosterone levels in people with low testosterone levels who meet certain criteria. So is low-t treatment beneficial or harmful?

Dr. Todd B. Nippoldt, M.D., A Mayo Clinic physician, wrote in an expert answers segment earlier this year which is  linked to here responding to the question of what are the risks associated with testosterone therapy that some studies suggest that testosterone therapy may:
1.increase the risk of heart attack in men older than 65
2. increase the risk of heart attack in men younger than 65 with a history of heart disease
3.increase the frequency of death and heart problems in men who had coronary artery disease
Dr. Nippoldt also wrote, however, that other studies suggest a lower risk of death in men on testosterone therapy compared to men not being treated.
Dr. Nippoldt also pointed out that, "[c]urrently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating the risk of stroke, heart attack and death in men taking FDA-approved testosterone products.'"

Just yesterday, Fox News published an article which is linked to here where physician Dr. David B. Samadi generally outlines main points about testosterone therapy and its risks and benefits. A very important idea he wrote was that "[s]tricter regulations and warnings by government agencies such as the FDA could prove extremely beneficial for men seeking this type of therapy. Often, testosterone is prescribed to men without proper blood testing, with no regulation or review of side effects or risks. This push towards regulation forces both patients and physicians to question whether the benefits of Low-T products outweigh potential risks of treatment." 

Testosterone replacement therapy is also a big business. According to a November 11, 2013 article in the New York Times, linked to here, that physician recommendations and "and the marketing of low T as a common medical condition helped propel sales of testosterone gels, patches, injections and tablets to about $2 billion in the United States last year, according to IMS".

Bottom line: While Low-t treatment may be beneficial for a certain population, it may be dangerous for other populations. People should be careful that the benefit they can receive from low-t therapy outweighs the risks of the treatment.