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The facts about testosterone replacement therapy

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November 2, 2014, 4:13 pm

Why has testosterone replacement therapy become such a hot media topic? It all started with a recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) which received coverage in the New York Times. The JAMA study inaccurately claimed that testosterone treatment increased the risk of heart attacks.

Dr. Scott Brandt, ThriveMD

Dr. Scott Brandt, ThriveMD

Several experts in the hormone replacement field, including myself, strongly disagree with the study’s claims and are calling for JAMA to recall the study because of its flaws. There have been at least 40 other studies demonstrating the cardiac benefits of testosterone replacement over the past 15 years. Simply put, forming an opinion about testosterone replacement therapy based on one unsound study, while ignoring the multitude of data supporting its benefits, is naive and short sighted.

Another study published around the same time as the JAMA study, without the noted flaws, was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) in December 2013. It stated that normal testosterone levels play an important role in cardiac health, improves obesity and exercise tolerance, and lowers the risk of Type 2 Diabetes.

The bottom line is testosterone replacement can help protect against heart disease, improve muscle tone, increase sexual desire and improve a man’s overall sense of well-being. Making a decision to undergo testosterone therapy should involve an in-depth consultation with a physician who’s well trained in natural hormone management and can review your medical history, physical examination and provide laboratory evaluation prior to initiation of any treatment.

Benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy for Women

Testosterone is often thought of as a male-only hormone, but it plays a critical role in the health and vitality of women. In other words, it is not just about male virility. Like their male counterparts, a woman’s testosterone level drops as she ages.

Women have lower testosterone levels than men, but it does not negate the fact that it is still imperative for a women’s health to have optimal female levels of not only estrogen and progesterone but also testosterone. In fact, of all the hormones replaced, testosterone is responsible for more of the ‘feel good effects’ from hormone replacement therapy than any other hormone. It is true that testosterone increases sex drive, but it is also does so much more. Mood, energy, and lean muscle mass can all improve when taking bioidentical testosterone replacement.

Did you know that maintaining strong healthy bones requires more than Vitamin D supplementation? Research supports an increase in bone density when women take bioidentical testosterone supplementation.

The bottom line is both women and men need testosterone to lead a vibrant, energetic, healthy life.

With offices in Vail and Aspen, Dr. Scott Brandt of ThriveMD offers regenerative and restorative medicine, specializing in minimally-invasive stem cell therapies to repair joint, tendon, ligament and spine pain. One of the few physicians in the nation trained in same-day, in-office stem cell therapy, Dr. Brandt is available for consultation. For more information call 970-766-8245 or visit www.thrivemdvail.com.