Testosterone therapy: Is it necessary?

According to a 2013 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine, prescription of testosterone therapy has risen three fold. More and more men – and even women – are seeking testosterone replacement therapy to address aging woes, such as weight gain, muscle loss and low energy, Fox News reports.

The emerging trend has led drug manufacturers and health industry experts to push testosterone pellets, injections, pills, patches, gels and creams of varying quality on an unsuspecting public. Just as the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) raised fears over hormone replacement therapy among women, a new study from the Journal of the American Medical Association has men reconsidering the cost of their virility.

But, much like the WHI scare, the trouble is not testosterone therapy itself; it is the expertise with which it is administered and the quality of the product and delivery method. 

Television, radio, magazine and billboard advertisements promise miracles from testosterone therapy. And this may be the case for some men and women, but the truth is that not every man or woman needs to be on testosterone therapy. Weight gain, sleepless nights, low energy and other woes of aging can occur for a variety of reasons.

Physicians that truly specialize in hormones and hormone replacement therapy know that comprehensive lab testing and thorough consultations are essential to determining why certain individuals are struggling with age-related concerns and what the best treatment solution may be. Careful monitoring of hormone levels and adjustments are necessary every three to six months. Hormones are not safe for use at the discretion of the consumer – hormones affect nearly every reaction in the body.

Most major medical organizations now agree that hormone replacement therapy is the best treatment for women suffering from menopause, but these industry leaders urge women to seek treatment from certified professionals and avoid over-the-counter drugs claiming to be effective hormone therapy.

If you have been experiencing signs and symptoms you believe are related to low testosterone or aging, use this list to guide you to a solution that is safe and will offer you effective outcomes for your lifelong health:

• Recognize marketing as marketing. Learn the difference between good marketing and prescribed needs. An online quiz cannot accurately diagnose your issues, and some websites present fiction as fact. Look for peer-reviewed studies from major medical journals.

• Find an expert. You wouldn’t go to your dentist for an oil change any more than you would see your mechanic for a medical check-up. If you seek hormone therapy, get treatment from a physician that specializes in hormones and hormone therapy. 

• Get comprehensive lab testing. Blood draws, urine samples and saliva testing are the most common methods for assessing various hormone levels. Have your tests evaluated by an expert specializing in hormone therapy and don’t be afraid to seek second opinions.

• Discuss your symptoms. Lab results are one thing, but symptoms are another piece of the puzzle. Make sure your physician spends time with you discussing your symptoms and correlating those with your lab results. Your health is highly personal, so your treatment plan should be equally personalized.

From Dr. Jennifer Landa, Chief Medical Officer of BodyLogicMD, specializing in bioidentical hormone therapy.

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