HRT For Men

Hormone replacement therapy for men means taking the (steroid) hormone testosterone, sometimes in combination with human growth hormone. Hormone replacement therapy for men has been studied far less than HRT for women. We just don't know as much about the risks and benefits...but it's certainly a current hot topic.

Here are the basics. There's lots of information and opinion on the internet.

Andropause is the male equivalent of menopause.
Andropause means a decline in the body's production of the hormone testosterone. In some men, the body also overproduces a molecule called globulin, which "locks up" or binds testosterone. Another process converts testosterone to a different molecule. Andropause generally takes place in men after the age of 45.

Symptoms
Symptoms of andropause tend to be less obvious than the symptoms of menopause experienced by women. Symptoms of andropause also vary widely among men. A typical patient may have only one, two or three of these symptoms:
1. Reduced feeling of well-being; depression
2. Reduced memory and alertness - deterioration in work performance
3. Reduced energy - falling asleep after meals
4. Reduced sex drive
5. Hot flushes
6. Joint pain
7. Increased visceral fat ....(fat around the internal organs - also a contributor to type 2 diabetes!)
8. Loss of muscle bulk, including the heart muscle

Various forms of testosterone HRT are available and may be given as a tablet by mouth, as cream or gel to rub on the skin, as a daily patch on the skin or may be implanted under the skin every 3 to 6 months. The choice of treatment depends on individual preference and how well it works for the individual.

Testosterone HRT Risks...
  1. cardiovascular disease
  2. blood lipid changes
  3. overproduction of red blood cells
  4. fluid retention
  5. prostate enlargement
  6. prostate cancer - under study. Your doctor may wish to monitor PSA
(prostate specific antigen) levels in your blood as a precaution.
  7. liver toxicity
  8. sleep apnea
  9. enlarged breasts
10. acne or oily skin
11. atrophy of the testes and infertility.

The jury's still out on HRT for men, with some drug companies, clinics and "natural alternative" businesses promoting their products and treatments, creating an increasing awareness of the challenges of andropause. It's something for the individual to learn about and discuss with his doctor.

HRT for women...

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