Safety of Testosterone-Replacement Therapy in Older Men

Circulating levels of testosterone decline with age in men,1 and some clinical consequences of hypogonadism resemble those of normal aging: fatigue, weakness, and impaired sexual function. These outcomes have led to the reasonable hypothesis that age-related decreases in testosterone levels may cause these symptoms and that quality of life could be improved by testosterone supplementation. Although the number of older men with testosterone levels below the normal range is small,2 the past several decades have seen large increases in the number of prescriptions for testosterone, mainly for middle-aged and older men.3 Despite the large number of men receiving testosterone supplementation, . . .