RESEARCH
SAFETY
“...there is no clear evidence that elevations in endogenous testosterone levels promote the development of prostate cancer in humans.”
Testosterone and prostate cancer: an evidence-based review of pathogenesis and oncologic risk | Therapeutic Advances in Urology
“Testosterone replacement therapy does not increase PSA levels in men being treated for hypogonadism, except when it is given IM and even the increase with IM administration is minimal.”
“Prostate growth is exquisitely sensitive to variations in androgen concentrations at very low concentrations, but becomes insensitive to changes in androgen concentrations at higher levels.”
Shifting the Paradigm of Testosterone and Prostate Cancer: The Saturation Model and the Limits of Androgen-Dependent Growth | European Urology
“SC testosterone therapy in doses similar to those given via IM route results in comparable pharmacokinetics and mean serum testosterone levels. With appropriate training, patients should be able to safely self-administer testosterone esters SC with relative ease and less discomfort compared with the IM route.”
Testosterone Therapy With Subcutaneous Injections: A Safe, Practical, and Reasonable Option | Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
“…the evidence seems sufficient to think that androgen therapy does not increase the risk of subsequent discovery of hormone dependent prostate cancer.”
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and prostate cancer: An updated systematic review with a focus on previous or active localized prostate cancer | Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations
"In men with hypogonadism and preexisting or a high risk of cardiovascular disease, testosterone-replacement therapy was noninferior to placebo with respect to the incidence of major adverse cardiac events."
Cardiovascular Safety of Testosterone-Replacement Therapy | The New England Journal of Medicine
AGING
“It’s normal for testosterone levels to decline as people age. The average drop is about 1% per year after age 30…but ongoing research shows decreases that are unrelated to aging.”
Why Are Testosterone Levels Declining? | Cleveland Clinic
“andropause is characterized by insidious onset and slow progression…declining testosterone and other anabolic hormones in men from the mid-30s onward may influence the aging-related deteriorations in body function.” Andropause: Current concepts | Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
SYSTEMIC DECLINES
“...the past 20 yr have seen substantial age-independent decreases in male serum T concentrations.... it remains unclear to what these apparent population-level decreases in T are attributable.”
Men's testosterone levels declined in last 20 years | Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
“It is well established that the incidence of prostate cancer is higher in black men. However, contrary to what one might expect, black men did not have a lower prevalence rate of hypogonadism (i.e. higher serum testosterone concentrations) in the current or previous analyses…the most significant differentiating factor between hypogonadal men and eugonadal men was BMI…medical conditions that occurred significantly more frequently among hypogonadal men than eugonadal men included increased BMI, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, and asthma or COPD.”
Prevalence of hypogonadism in males aged at least 45 years: the HIM study - PMC | International Journal of Clinical Practice
MALE WELL BEING
“Reported symptoms of late-onset hypogonadism are easily recognized and include diminished sexual desire and erectile quality, particularly in nocturnal erections, changes in mood with concomitant decreases in intellectual activity and spatial orientation, fatigue, depression and anger, a decrease in lean body mass with associated decreases in muscle volume and strength, a decrease in body hair and skin alterations, and decreased bone mineral density resulting in osteoporosis… presently, it is speculated that a low serum testosterone level may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. Thus, testosterone is a key molecule in men's health, especially that of elderly men.”
The Relationship between Testosterone Deficiency and Men's Health | World Journal of Men’s Health
“We found testosterone undecanoate (TU) significantly improved obesity parameters (body weight, waist circumference, and BMI) and lowered total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c , and blood pressure over the 5-year study. HDL cholesterol was increased. TU treatment resulted in a sustained improvement in erectile function and muscle and joint pain, which contributed to an improvement in long-term health-related quality of life…we found no evidence that long-term treatment with TU increases the risk of prostate carcinoma.”
Long-term testosterone treatment in elderly men with hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction reduces obesity parameters and improves metabolic syndrome and health-related quality of life | The Journal of Sexual Medicine
“Testosterone replacement therapy and off-label alternatives capable of restoring T levels appear as suitable to improve late onset hypogonadism, while also counteracting comorbidities related with metabolic diseases.”
Late-onset hypogonadism and lifestyle-related metabolic disorders | Andrology
“Testosterone plays a pivotal role in maintaining balance within the multi-dimensional psychological network of mood, behaviour, self-perception and perceived quality of life in men of any age… overall, the quality of life in older hypogonadal men can be positively influenced by testosterone substitution, as has been demonstrated in large placebo-controlled trials.”
Testosterone, mood, behaviour and quality of life | Andrology
ADJACENT TOPICS
“Burnout and stress are everywhere”
Burnout and stress are everywhere | American Psychological Association
“Over the past 50 years, human sperm counts appear to have fallen by more than 50% around the globe, according to an updated review of medical literature.”
Sperm counts may be declining globally, review finds, adding to debate over male fertility | CNN