Are There Side Effects With Testosterone Replacement?
While studies have shown that testosterone replacement therapy is affective, there are some potential problems you need to be aware of.- Not everyone needs replacement therapy. The only people who will benefit from testosterone replacement are those men with male hypogonadism or low testosterone production.
- Not every sexual dysfunction can be cured with testosterone.
- Fatigue caused by stress, workload, etc. may not be improved by increasing testosterone in the body.
- Unnecessary testosterone replacement may leave a man at higher risk for developing prostate cancer.
- Testosterone replacement can contribute to liver disease.
- Insurances are making it harder and harder to get reimbursement for testosterone replacement. Diagnostics are now required by many payors to document hypogonadism prior to any reimbursement for testosterone.
For those who need testosterone, replacement therapy can improve quality of life. If used cautiously and appropriately, testosterone can be very beneficial. Ask your doctor to measure your baseline testosterone level. If and when you develop symptoms like MC, a baseline testosterone level can help identify deficiencies. Ask your doctor if testosterone replacement is right for you.
