Male Menopause and Testosterone

The use of testosterone supplementation continues to be a risky issue, so The Endocrine Society, unlike others promoting testosterone for men, warns it is not to be taken just for building up a Barry Bonds baseball average or to try to prevent aging.

"Using testosterone for these purposes may be harmful to your health," the society states in its guide.

Diagnosis shouldn't be made quickly or taken lightly. Doctors need to take a detailed medical history, evaluate life changes that might be involved in symptoms such as depression, and be aware of illness, malnutrition and medications that may temporarily reduce testosterone levels.

Not every man, even those with symptoms, should be treated. The society says that men with breast or prostate cancer, a lump or hardness in the prostate, a high number of red blood cells, and even sleep apnea (pauses in breathing followed by loud snoring) should avoid getting testosterone.

The point of treatment is to improve muscle strength, sex drive and strength of erections and reverse other distressing problems such as loss of body hair.

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