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Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has been getting much attention from the scientific community and the general population for its benefits and safety issues. Recently, a new study looking into these subject matters has been published, potentially opening a new door for safe and widespread therapy use.
RELATED: Why Is There a Steady Decrease in Testosterone Levels of Men in the U.S?
New Study Says Short-term Testosterone Replacement Therapy Is Safe
FDA Requires Labeling of Testosterone Products
Testosterone is the fuel for life that every man needs. This male sex hormone plays a crucial role in shaping masculine characteristics and maintaining the overall sense of well-being of a man. However, as we get older, our bodies cannot produce enough hormones as we did at a younger age, resulting in the need for a therapy that ensures average hormone production. Therefore, testosterone replacement therapy is helping millions of men regain vitality and feel youthful again.
Nevertheless, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning in 2015, stating that only males with low testosterone levels due to specific medical problems are qualified to use prescription testosterone supplements. Men who can receive testosterone include those suffering from disorders of the testicles, pituitary gland, or brain that cause hypogonadism. Examples of these disorders include testicle failure or damage from infection or chemotherapy.
Apart from the indications above, the FDA did not establish the benefit and safety of testosterone products for treating testosterone decline due to aging. On this account, the FDA required the manufacturers of these products to change their labeling to clarify the approved indications – testosterone therapy is only for men with certain medical conditions, meaning aging men are excluded.
Moreover, the FDA also demanded these manufacturers include information about a possible risk of heart attacks and strokes in the labeling. Patients with low testosterone should also be well-versed in the dangers before the therapy.
Is Testosterone for Men With Certain Medical Conditions Only?
Despite the safety announcement in 2015, the FDA noticed that testosterone was being used widely in men with age-related testosterone decline. Based on the evidence from published studies, the FDA concluded that there might be a possible increased cardiovascular risk associated with testosterone use among men not qualified for the therapy.
But is testosterone for men with certain medical conditions only? And, how are men low in testosterone due to aging not qualified to receive a treatment that makes them feel better? Due to the need to preserve youthful health among aged men, scientists are looking into more research to discover if they can expand the therapy indication for widespread use.
What Does the Best Study to Date Say About Testosterone?
A recent study published in June 2022 by The Lancet Healthy Longevity shows that men with low testosterone can receive short-term testosterone replacement therapy (short-term TRT) from three months to a year without the risk of heart-related problems. The researchers said the findings had strengthened the belief that short-term TRT is risk-free for the heart when taken within an appropriate duration in men who qualify for this therapy.
Surprisingly, and contrary to the 2015 safety announcement by the FDA, researchers said that individuals diagnosed with low testosterone levels due to hypogonadism and aging might qualify for testosterone replacement therapy. In other words, aged men having low testosterone levels and suffering from symptoms can get short-term TRT.
If you have diminished sexual desire, low energy, decreased muscle mass, or facial or body hair loss, discuss with your doctor whether you are a candidate for testosterone replacement therapy. Remember that there is no risk of side effects like heart problems due to short-term TRT, as shown by the study above. Most importantly, older men without specific medical conditions who wish to regain youthful health can still benefit from the therapy.
Nonetheless, men with a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol should receive counseling before taking testosterone replacement therapy.
RELATED: 5 Facts & Myths About Female Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Testosterone Use Is Safe in the Short to Medium Term
The study by The Lancet Healthy Longevity concludes that men with low testosterone, or hypogonadism, should be advised that there is no current evidence that short-term TRT and medium-term TRT increase cardiovascular risk.
This conclusion is drawn from the observation that there was no noticeable difference between the rates of any heart-related events in men receiving testosterone therapy (7.5 percent) and men receiving placebo (7.2 percent). Additionally, testosterone therapy did not significantly raise the chances of death, stroke, irregular heart rhythms, coronary heart disease, heart failure, or heart attack compared to placebo in men.
The study, which includes information from 35 trials that involved over 5,000 men, is regarded as the most comprehensive investigation into the benefits and risks of testosterone therapy. In addition, scientists have also warranted future examination of the long-term safety of testosterone.
So, look for testosterone therapy now if you have problems with low hormones. Men and women may suffer from symptoms due to low testosterone, and everyone has the right to live a healthy life.
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