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      The benefits and risks of testosterone replacement therapy: a review

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          Abstract

          Increased longevity and population aging will increase the number of men with late onset hypogonadism. It is a common condition, but often underdiagnosed and undertreated. The indication of testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) treatment requires the presence of low testosterone level, and symptoms and signs of hypogonadism. Although controversy remains regarding indications for testosterone supplementation in aging men due to lack of large-scale, long-term studies assessing the benefits and risks of testosterone-replacement therapy in men, reports indicate that TRT may produce a wide range of benefits for men with hypogonadism that include improvement in libido and sexual function, bone density, muscle mass, body composition, mood, erythropoiesis, cognition, quality of life and cardiovascular disease. Perhaps the most controversial area is the issue of risk, especially possible stimulation of prostate cancer by testosterone, even though no evidence to support this risk exists. Other possible risks include worsening symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy, liver toxicity, hyperviscosity, erythrocytosis, worsening untreated sleep apnea or severe heart failure. Despite this controversy, testosterone supplementation in the United States has increased substantially over the past several years. The physician should discuss with the patient the potential benefits and risks of TRT. The purpose of this review is to discuss what is known and not known regarding the benefits and risks of TRT.

          Author and article information

          Journal
          Ther Clin Risk Manag
          Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management
          Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management
          Dove Medical Press
          1176-6336
          1178-203X
          2009
          2009
          22 June 2009
          : 5
          : 427-448
          Affiliations
          [1 ]Division of Geriatric Medicine;
          [2 ]Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA;
          [3 ]GRECC, VA Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
          Author notes
          Correspondence: John E Morley, MB, BCh, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 S. Grand Blvd., M238, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA, Tel +1 314 977 8464, Fax +1 314 771 8575, Email morley@ 123456slu.edu
          Article
          tcrm-5-427
          10.2147/TCRM.S3025
          2701485
          19707253
          39908d8c-a36d-4ff3-a4e0-0909bc402f9e
          © 2009 Bassil et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd.

          This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, provided the original work is properly cited.

          History
          : 9 June 2009
          Categories
          Review

          Medicine
          erectile dysfunction,osteoporosis,testosterone replacement therapy,cardiovascular disease,hypogonadism

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