The benefits and risks of testosterone replacement therapy: a review

Review

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Authors:

Nazem Bassil, Saad Alkaade, John E Morley

Published Date June 2009 Volume 2009:5 Pages 427 - 448

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/TCRM.S3025

Nazem Bassil¹, Saad Alkaade², John E Morley^1,3

¹Division of Geriatric Medicine; ²Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA; ³GRECC, VA Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Abstract: Increased longevity and population aging will increase the number of men with late onset hypogonadism. It is a common condition, but often underdiagnosed and undertreated. The indication of testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) treatment requires the presence of low testosterone level, and symptoms and signs of hypogonadism. Although controversy remains regarding indications for testosterone supplementation in aging men due to lack of large-scale, long-term studies assessing the benefits and risks of testosterone-replacement therapy in men, reports indicate that TRT may produce a wide range of benefits for men with hypogonadism that include improvement in libido and sexual function, bone density, muscle mass, body composition, mood, erythropoiesis, cognition, quality of life and cardiovascular disease. Perhaps the most controversial area is the issue of risk, especially possible stimulation of prostate cancer by testosterone, even though no evidence to support this risk exists. Other possible risks include worsening symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy, liver toxicity, hyperviscosity, erythrocytosis, worsening untreated sleep apnea or severe heart failure. Despite this controversy, testosterone supplementation in the United States has increased substantially over the past several years. The physician should discuss with the patient the potential benefits and risks of TRT. The purpose of this review is to discuss what is known and not known regarding the benefits and risks of TRT.

Keywords: hypogonadism, testosterone replacement therapy, erectile dysfunction, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease