Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer Fact Sheet NCI

Testosterone Replacement Therapy TRT: What to Know

And while it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for some conditions, and is widely marketed as a way to improve health and stay young, data on long-term effects is limited. Testosterone therapy is available in multiple forms, including topical gel, topical solution, transdermal patch, intranasal gel, injectable, and implantable pellets. This article will refer to products by brand name to minimize confusion with similar-sounding generic names.

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were sought for effectiveness questions, whereas both randomized and non-randomized studies were sought for adverse events and questions of association and risk factors. Random effects meta-analyses were performed when deemed appropriate. Evidence tables (for included studies) and evidence profiles (showing estimates of effect for the outcomes of interest) were generated and presented to the Panel. Exogenous testosterone therapy has been shown to interrupt normal spermatogenesis and can put patients in severely oligospermic or azoospermic states and should not be used in men trying to conceive. Normal sperm production depends on a functionally intact hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis with normal secretion of pituitary LH and FSH to support intratesticular testosterone production and spermatogenesis.

Previously, there were concerns that TRT raised the risk of developing prostate cancer. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate rest all help maintain energy and vitality in men over 50. But men are also turning to one of the most advanced aging solutions available. Over the last decade, testosterone use among middle-aged and senior men has become popular. A 2020 meta-analysis found that TRT significantly improved depressive symptoms in men with low testosterone. In rare cases when neither therapy works, we can consider increasing the FSH level as well with injections of the FSH substitute hMG. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which means you can’t verify what they’re made with or whether they’re safe, even if they come with a celebrity endorsement.

However, based on inconclusive data, the FDA does warn of a possible increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Given the increasing incidence of both testosterone deficiency and prostate cancer with advancing age, it is common for the two conditions to co-exist in older men. Product labels for all testosterone formulations explicitly state that their use is contraindicated in men with a history of prostate cancer, which results from Huggins’ precept that testosterone therapy feeds prostate cancer cell proliferation. However, the literature at this time fails to define the LH level below which such adjunctive testing is warranted. In the event that a patient may have hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, adjunctive tests should be ordered.

Due to exogenous testosterone’s many formulations, clinicians must monitor for different adverse effects at each visit. Testosterone gels can get transferred to a woman or child who comes in contact with the gel. As a result, patients are advised to cover the application site with clothing and wash the skin before having skin-to-skin contact to avoid transmission.

In the past, these tumors were also called hormone resistant, androgen independent, or hormone refractory; however, these terms are rarely used now because the tumors are not truly independent of androgens for their growth. In fact, some newer hormone therapies have become available that can be used to treat tumors that have become castration resistant. The goal of testosterone therapy is to reverse the symptoms and effects you are suffering from due to a loss of testosterone production. Many men report an increase in muscle mass, their energy level, their libido, and an elimination of ED. However, since every person is different, results can vary, which is why it’s important to seek out a specialist. Men should not have this therapy if they have normal testosterone levels or if their testosterone levels have not been tested.

It is important to monitor your levels as well as some related blood tests, as it can be dangerous to have testosterone levels that are too high. Many men have lowered testosterone levels as they age, and these low levels can you get gyno from trt start to cause a variety of symptoms. Male hormone replacement therapy, or TRT therapy, is a safe and effective treatment option if you have symptoms or difficulty with low testosterone levels. Studies have not yet demonstrated the effectiveness of TRT in helping men with normal levels of testosterone or older men with decreasing testosterone levels due to aging.

However, once a steady baseline of testosterone has been established, it will feel like a “switch” has been “flipped,” and you’ll feel more balanced, vibrant, and ready to take on the world. Short-term improvements in energy levels, mood, and sexual function tend to be noticed in the early stages of therapy, within the first few weeks or months. Within 3-6 months, most patients start to experience more medium-term effects, such as improvements in muscle mass and strength, as well as in areas that go beyond their physical health, such as better mental and emotional wellbeing. Results of the trials assessing cognitive function, anemia, bone density, and cardiovascular health are forthcoming. However, the Testosterone Trials were designed to assess only effectiveness and not the risks of testosterone therapy, including prostate cancer or cardiovascular disease.

Emory Healthcare doctors provide specialized treatment and research the latest advancements. The content contained in this article is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk. Testosterone is important to a man’s health, says UNC Health urologist Marc J. Rogers, MD.