Sleep disorders, fatigue, loss of muscle strength, erectile dysfunction and less desire for sex – men also have symptoms if they exceed 50. Do they also go into menopause? And does the gift of testosterone, the “king hormone of men” help them? Promises of advertising and research results diverge widely as to the consequences of additional testosterone use. Why testosterone is not a lifestyle drug, what a real testosterone deficiency means and how men can run away from the supposed menopausal symptoms, explains Thomas Ebel, a doctor in the AOK federal association.
Testosterone increases joie de vivre and activity! Regulates muscle building and mental fitness! It provides more lust and masculinity! The market for the male hormone testosterone is booming. If you believe the advertising promise, the remedy seems to be a true fountain of youth for men over 50 and successfully fights aging problems such as sleep disorders, fatigue, loss of muscle strength, erectile dysfunction and less desire for sex. In the United States, the number of testosterone users has doubled within three years. There the phenomenon is marketed under the term “Low T”, so-called Low-T centers have specialized in the testosterone treatment of older men. The number of prescriptions for testosterone preparations is also increasing in Germany: According to the Medicinal Products Ordinance Report 2019, the volume of prescriptions has almost quadrupled since 2004.
Radio-ready sound broadcasts with Thomas Ebel, a doctor in the AOK federal association
Not proven that testosterone helps with age problems
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Risks outweigh the benefits
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A new clinical picture was created: menopause. Also called andropause, climacteric virile, aging male syndrome or simply hormone low in men. “But menopause, like that of women, does not exist in men,” emphasizes Thomas Ebel, a doctor in the AOK federal association. “And there is no evidence of the benefits of testosterone supplements for aging disorders.”
Normal aging process
In contrast to women, in whom the sex hormones drop abruptly with the last menstrual period, testosterone formation in men gradually decreases: from around 30 years of age by one to two percent per year, “This is a normal aging process and most men feel nothing of it,” says medical doctor Ebel. The non-specific complaints such as reduced performance, sleep problems or loss of libido can have many causes and can be attributed to stress or to diseases such as cardiovascular diseases or thyroid disorders. In addition, men with fairly low testosterone levels often have no symptoms and, conversely, men with normal levels suffer from such symptoms. In short: There is no scientifically proven causal link between certain complaints and low testosterone levels. The effects of hormone preparations – as capsules, syringes, plasters, gels or solutions for application to the skin – have not yet been proven. So far, studies have not shown
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If a man has no discomfort, determining testosterone doesn’t make sense.
With severe complaints and low testosterone levels, testosterone agents may be considered – but only under medical control. However, it should be borne in mind that there are no generally applicable testosterone limits and there are no long-term studies on the benefits and risks of the preparations.
A healthy lifestyle is the best anti-aging remedy, i.e. avoiding nicotine and excessive alcohol consumption, healthy eating, lots of exercises and good stress management.
These measures may also help to control erectile dysfunction, which is mainly due to constricted blood vessels and not due to a lack of hormones.
Many side effects
Instead, users have to expect side effects such as the risk of thrombosis, increased blood lipid levels, headaches, prostate problems, breast swelling, mood swings or high blood pressure. Because the relationship between benefits and risks has so far been negative, testosterone preparations in Europe are not approved for basically healthy older men, emphasizes the European Medicines Agency ( EMA ). The situation is different with an unusually low testosterone level, so-called hypogonadism, which affects normal sexual function and development. “A testosterone deficiency in need of treatment can occur, for example, in diseases of the testicle or a tumor in the pituitary gland, “says Ebel. However, other symptoms then also become noticeable, such as the testicles shrinking, the beard not growing strongly or the muscle mass shrinking despite sufficient movement and the body fat increasing.
A healthy lifestyle can relieve symptoms
If these special diseases are not present, sporting activity counteracts shrinking muscles and increasing body fat. In addition, exercise and a healthy lifestyle, in general, can usually relieve other complaints. Incidentally, the testosterone level could also rise. Because men who live healthily often have higher testosterone levels than men who do not pay attention to their health.
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