Testosterone Therapy: Is It Safe?

What you should ask your doctor about testosterone replacement therapy.

Reviewed by Ranjith Ramasamy, MD

Over the past 10 years or so, the number of men 40 and older who take testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has tripled. With that rise has come a debate over the safety of TRT, especially for men with heart disease. Two large studies, one published last fall and the other in January, suggest that TRT poses severe, sometimes fatal risks, including heart attack and other serious problems.

Both studies have vocal critics. They claim the data doesn't support the studies' conclusions.

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To add to the mix, another large study presented in May concludes that TRT does not harm the heart. It may even protect it. And a new study involving 25,000 men funded by the National Institutes of Health found no increased risk of heart attack linked to testosterone use. Confused yet?

One thing is certain: As men age, their testosterone reserves start to slip. Over time, that can lead to a less active libido, less vitality, and an unfamiliar lack of confidence and motivation.

Can TRT restore a man's youthful vigor safely? "We don't know," says endocrinologist and men's health specialist Shalender Bhasin, MD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

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Testosterone Therapy: Is It Safe?

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