Testosterone level risks

The fact that men’s testosterone level drops after they reach 30 years of age is well-established, but replacing testosterone isn’t as cut and dried of a process as it might seem.

Dr. John Morley, who is a director of geriatrics at St. Louis University, says men face a challenge in finding a physician who can prescribe an appropriate amount of testosterone. He says some doctors prescribe too much, others avoid it completely and both are wrong.

Consumers should consult with either an endocrinologist or a urologist about their testosterone level, which can be checked by a blood test. You should ask whether the doctor believes that you need more testosterone. If he/she says yes, you should ask why, Morley says.

“If it’s something like, ‘Well this can help if you’re tired,’ I’d tell them to go to hell,” he says. The primary reason to seek a testosterone boost is if you have hypogonadism, which is a condition that can cause the loss of body hair and muscles. Even without hypogonadism, Morley says, men also will experience decreased libido.

Testosterone levels are measured relative to your age and health history, which includes alcohol use, genetic diseases and injuries. From there, a doctor can determine an appropriate dosage range, which he/she should tell you. Morley says you should be suspicious of doctors who recommend testosterone levels at the high end of the range, because studies have shown that one-third of men don’t respond to that level of treatment.