Hormonal Therapy
A severe deficiency of testosterone - also called hypogonadism - can cause impotence. However, only about 4% of the male population has this problem and can benefit from treatment, which usually involves giving testosterone either through a skin patch or by injection in the ai*ni or buttocks to raise the hormone to acceptable levels.
Recently, the idea of ‘male menopause,’ also referred! to as andropause, has received a good deal of publicity in | the popular press, but many doctors are skeptical that it exists. If male menopause does exist, it involves a gradual decline of hormone levels and body function, and is quite different from female menopause. Symptoms of male! menopause may include hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia (difficulty sleeping), depression, irritability, decreased sexual desire, impotence, weakness, lethargy (listlessness or drowsiness), loss of lean body mass, and decreased bone mass. The relationship of these symptoms to declining levels of male hormones is controversial, and the benefit of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in relieving them; is still unproven.
HRT is effective in men who have a medically confirmed testosterone deficiency; however, sadly, millions’ of dollars are spent every year because of the false belief that testosterone boosts sexual drive and, therefore, improves potency. The side effects of testosterone re-j placement therapy can be serious, and the indiscriminate prescribing of testosterone may speed the growth: of many microscopic prostate cancers. HRT should be avoided by patients with a history of liver disease, heart disease, kidney problems, urinary problems, or pros-j tate cancer. If your doctor recommends testosterone1 replacement therapy without conducting the appropriate laboratory tests, you should seek another opinion1 before proceeding with treatment or viagra.
