Last week I really enjoyed writing about my mom’s journey to greater health. But it fulfilled me even more to show her the finished newsletter issue.
Today I’m going to cover a topic so completely different, I’m drawing a blank on how to artfully transition into it. There’s simply no way, so I’ll just do it:
Testosterone replacement therapy.
This controversial practice hit the mainstream right around the time you saw television ads gently asking you to consider if you’re suffering from “Low T.”
Big Pharma couldn’t even bring itself to say the word because it still frightens many people:
Testosterone.
To get an idea of its role in the body, think of testosterone as the “master male hormone.” It’s secreted from the testicles in males, as well as the ovaries in females (in small amounts). Testosterone influences muscle growth, sex drive, bone health, and energy in men…and women! Yup, this hormone is actually necessary for health in both genders, although in amounts roughly 8-10 times smaller in women.
If reclaiming the stronger muscles, bones, and libido of your younger years appeals to you in the slightest, you’re not alone. A study out of the University of Texas Medical Branch found from 2000-2011, testosterone replacement therapy rates tripled among men over 40
But these stats don’t take into account the millions of men who have done a more “underground” version with an entirely different name:
Anabolic steroids.
Yup. Because that’s really what testosterone replacement therapy comes down to. It’s infusing the body with the anabolic hormone testosterone, to raise otherwise flagging levels.
The media is rife with horror stories related to steroid abuse, and the potential health problems which result. This alone is enough for many people to conclude it’s “best not to mess with nature.”
But is that true for everyone?
Maybe not…
In a 2007 study of Boston men’s testosterone levels, scientists found they had dropped 1% per year since 1987. It had nothing to do with the population getting older, on average. Nor do obesity or smoking fully explain it. And something tells me this alarming trend hasn’t stopped or even slowed down.
Well-managed replacement of testosterone seems to help: A year-long study out of the Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University found men receiving a Testim® gel improved both their mood and sexual function.
However, there are some reports of health-risks even with more conservative programs given by a doctor. Before I pull back the curtain on the hype and show what the science says, I want to ask your opinion. Would you take testosterone replacement therapy? How about steroids? Maybe if the health risks aren’t there? Even if they are? Should testosterone be legal without a prescription? I’d love to know: livingwelldaily@lfb.org
Regards,
Nate Rifkin
Underground Health Researcher
