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DiscussionTestosterone Booster Pills & Aging: Benefits? Risks?
Men's Health | Last Active: Dec 17, 2022 | Replies (17)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "I have a slightly low testosterone level. A contemporary of mine whose testosterone level was low..."
@cfbauer @abelmarcelo @johnbishop, I merged your discussion with this existing discussion with @rckleinsmith @glenner075 and @lwood58 who were also asking about the potential benefits and risks of taking testerone therapy. See all posts here:
- Testosterone Booster Pills & Aging: Benefits? Risks?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/testosterone-booster-pills/
This article from Mayo Clinic helps answer your questions.
- Testosterone therapy: Potential benefits and risks as you age https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/sexual-health/in-depth/testosterone-therapy/art-20045728
Here's an excerpt:
"Testosterone therapy has various risks, including:
- Worsening sleep apnea — a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts.
- Causing acne or other skin reactions.
- Stimulating noncancerous growth of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and growth of existing prostate cancer.
- Enlarging breasts.
- Limiting sperm production or causing testicles to shrink.
- Stimulating too much red blood cell production, which contributes to the increased risk of forming a blood clot. A clot could break loose, travel through your bloodstream and lodge in your lungs, blocking blood flow (pulmonary embolism).
Also, some research shows that testosterone therapy can increase your risk of heart disease. More research is needed.
Should you talk to your doctor about testosterone therapy?
If you wonder whether testosterone therapy might be right for you, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits. Your doctor will likely measure your testosterone levels at least twice before recommending testosterone therapy.
Treating normal aging with testosterone therapy is not advisable. If you don't have a medical condition that's contributing to your decline in testosterone levels, your doctor might suggest natural ways to boost testosterone, such as losing weight and increasing muscle mass through resistance exercise."