Testosterone Therapy

Saturday, March 1, 2003

(NAPSA)—Whetherit’s called male menopause, mano-pause or andropause, there’s no doubt that men experience physical changes as they age—and someof these changes may be dueto low testosterone levels. Men suffering from low testosterone can receive relief with treatment, but sorting through the issues around testosterone therapy may be confusing. “Recent media coverage about hormone therapy for women has left men concerned about their own testosterone therapy,” says Larry I. Lipshultz, M.D., Chief, Division of Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine. “Men must realize their bodies respond to treatmentdifferently than women. Menare not women.Theeffects of testosterone in men are not the sameas theeffects of estrogen and progestin in women.” A new brochure from the Baltimore-based non-profit American Foundation for Urologic Disease (AFUD) is now available to educate men about the benefits and potential risks of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). AFUD based the brochure, “TRT: Clear & Simple,” on the American Urological Association official TRT position statement as an ongoing effort to inform men about the effects of treatment. Almost five million American men may have low testosterone levels, according to FDA estimates. Symptoms may include low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, reduced muscle mass and_ strength, decreased bone density, difficulty concentrating, depression and fatigue. TRT is for men of any age who have these symptoms and low testosterone levels confirmed with a blood test. TRT raises testosterone levels to the normal range, causing symptoms to improve. Patients should talk with a doctor about the effects of TRT prior to starting treatment. “Multiple studies have shown TRT can provide dramatic health POTENTIAL BENEFITS POSSIBLE RISKS Enhances energy Maycause sleep disturbances called “sleep apnea”in men whoare level and mood. Increases lean body mass and overweight or who muscle strength. have lung disease. Decreasestotal bodyfat. Maycause breast discomfort. May improve Mayincrease red blood cell count.* sex drive and erectile function. Increases bone mineral density, which may lead to reduced fracture risk. May cause changes in blood levels of cholesterol. Mayincrease prostate size.** * An increase in red blood cell count may be a health benefit or risk for some men. Periodic testing of hemoglobin is advised. ** Your doctor should monitor your prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels before and during treatment. @ Source: AFUD benefits for men with testosterone deficiency,” says Dr. Lip- shultz, who also is Co-Chair of AFUD’s Reproductive Health Council. But, doctors caution that testos- terone is not a “fountain of youth,” and must be used with careful medical supervision. Patients should have their PSA levels checked before starting therapy and throughout treatment. Men with existing prostate cancer must not use TRT. Dr. Lipshultz adds, “Current evidence does not suggest an excessive risk of heart disease or prostate cancer with long-term testosterone use.” Donald J., a 61-year-old man from Texas, believes the benefits of treatment outweigh any possible risks. “Prior to treatment, I was losing interest in sex,” said Donald, a patient of Dr. Lipshultz. “T felt a dramatic change in my sex drive and energy level only after one month of using testosterone therapy.” For men like Donald, treatment is available as a testosteronegel, patch or injection. “TRT: Clear & Simple”is available on the AFUD Reproductive Health Council Web site at www.reproductive-health.org and on the organization’s main Web site at www.afud.org. Men also mayorder a brochure from AFUD by phoning 800-242-2383.

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