Is “manopause” real, and do the benefits of testosterone replacement outweigh the risks? Testosterone levels decrease by 1-3% per year starting at age 30 in men. When testosterone falls, men experience fatigue, loss of bone and muscle mass with an increase in fat, inflammation, joint pain, depression, irritability and loss of libido (interest in sex). Low testosterone levels are also associated with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, prostate cancer, and death. Normalization of testosterone levels through testosterone replacement decreases the risk of heart attack and prostate cancer, but there are still concerns about testosterone replacement therapy and associated risks involving the liver, heart and prostate. These risks are eliminated with topical testosterone or with testosterone injections, but 45% of men do not absorb topical testosterone. Topical testosterone is also messy and can be transferred to family members and pets.
Topical Testosterone is the safest way of treating women with testosterone deficiency. Women make ten times more testosterone than estrogen over a lifetime, and both hormones fall with the approach of menopause. When women have low testosterone, they experience many of the same symptoms as men, including fatigue, weight gain with loss of bone and muscle mass, inflammation, joint pain, depression, and loss of libido. Women also experience anxiety, insomnia, night sweats, memory loss, mental fog, and headaches.
If you think you may have low testosterone and are interested in an anti-aging, disease-preventing, health-promoting treatment, please reach out.