Manopause by Lisa Friedman Bloch

Author:Lisa Friedman Bloch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Hay House
Published: 2012-07-18T00:00:00+00:00

No, He Shouldn’t

Before we get too carried away, we should let the other side weigh in. While some doctors are impassioned cheerleaders for testosterone therapy, there are many doctors who are adamantly opposed.

They argue that decreasing testosterone isn’t a deficiency, it is simply a lower level that is appropriate to a manopause man’s age; that growing older is a stage of life that should be accepted, even relished, instead of being resisted. And to bolster their argument, they suggest that a drop in testosterone levels may be nature’s way of protecting men from the rapid cell growth that can fuel prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. They also point out that advertisements for testosterone testing and supplementation are underwritten by drug companies, which have a vested interest in their use. Very few doctors argue against giving testosterone therapy to men who are clinically deficient. But a large number feel that for men who are within the normal range for their age or just below it, the jury is still out.

One reason for their doubts is that testosterone levels are quixotic. They can vary with a man’s psychological state. Is he married? Is he single? Does he have children at home or not? Did he win his golf game today? Does he feel as if he’s on top of the competition at work? All of these psychological factors can influence a man’s testosterone levels, on an hourly, daily, or longer-term basis, and this can skew the testing that establishes them.

Hormone studies for men lag behind those for women. There have been a number of small studies over the years that have had different, and confusing, results. But there is yet to be a long-term, placebo-controlled study of testosterone replacement. The National Institutes of Health has created a task force to determine the risks and benefits of testosterone therapy, but that study hasn’t yet been completed. However, in 2003, when the Institute of Medicine reviewed evidence from then-current studies, it recommended that treatment was only appropriate for men who produce little or no testosterone until the long-term effects on otherwise healthy men are known.8

While long-term studies may still be lacking, doctors who campaign against testosterone replacement have suggested doubts about its true value. They point to the fact that the small studies that have been done have had confusing, even diametrically opposed, results. And they explain that while testosterone may increase muscle mass, there are doubts as to whether it simultaneously increases strength, makes normal activities easier to perform physically, or lessens the chance of falls and fractures or other health-related concerns. Most telling is the fact that no studies to date have proven that restored testosterone levels will help otherwise healthy men to get healthier or live longer.

Furthermore, while many physicians have put forth extensive anecdotal evidence stating patients are more energetic and contented with treatment, the data is not conclusive. While some men report physical enhancement, including anecdotal evidence of rejuvenated sexuality, boosted morale, and unhappiness being replaced with self-confidence and

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