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CNN Live At Daybreak
Thousands of Aging Men Turning to Testosterone Therapy
Aired November 13, 2003 - 06:53 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Thousands of aging men are turning to testosterone therapy to try to get back some of their youthful vigor and vitality. Does it work, though?
Dr. Sandra Fryhofer is here with the results of a new study.
And we're talking about male menopause?
DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You want to know if there is really such a thing?
COSTELLO: Yes.
FRYHOFER: Well, it depends upon who you ask. Now, it's a huge area of contention, Carol, and the claim is that as men age, testosterone levels drop and they go through a male version of menopause dubbed andropause that some doctors say requires treatment. Well, that's where testosterone therapy comes in. There are shots, patches, even testosterone gel. Some people say it's great. Others say it doesn't work at all.
This new report from the Institute of Medicine finds little evidence it works or that the therapy is even safe, but does recommend careful study to find out.
The FDA has already approved therapy for men with hypogonadism, and that's a condition where the body makes very little testosterone and it's a condition that increases the risk of osteoporosis, fatigue, mood changes and sexual dysfunction.
Now, one thing is for sure, demand for testosterone treatment is way up. More than 1.75 million prescriptions for testosterone products were written in 2002. That's a 170 percent increase from 1999.
COSTELLO: So is this...
FRYHOFER: And I've got some here.
COSTELLO: You've got some. Is there a down side to this? Is it safe?
FRYHOFER: Well, we don't know for sure, Carol, and that's the big question here. One of the biggest concerns is it possibly could spur the growth of prostate cancer, which is already a big risk for men as they age. There are also concerns it could increase the risk of heart disease because it has unfavorable effects on the lipid profiles. Certain forms, an oral form can cause liver damage. And it can worsen symptoms of sleep apnea.
So the Institute of Medicine is calling for more studies. But remember, testosterone is not a cure all for the aging man. Often losing weight, drinking less alcohol, stopping smoking and exercising more often can help those testosterone levels return to normal on their own. So if they get some of this gel, they also need to get a treadmill.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
Thank you, Dr. Sandy.
We appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 13, 2003 - 06:53 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Thousands of aging men are turning to testosterone therapy to try to get back some of their youthful vigor and vitality. Does it work, though?
Dr. Sandra Fryhofer is here with the results of a new study.
And we're talking about male menopause?
DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You want to know if there is really such a thing?
COSTELLO: Yes.
FRYHOFER: Well, it depends upon who you ask. Now, it's a huge area of contention, Carol, and the claim is that as men age, testosterone levels drop and they go through a male version of menopause dubbed andropause that some doctors say requires treatment. Well, that's where testosterone therapy comes in. There are shots, patches, even testosterone gel. Some people say it's great. Others say it doesn't work at all.
This new report from the Institute of Medicine finds little evidence it works or that the therapy is even safe, but does recommend careful study to find out.
The FDA has already approved therapy for men with hypogonadism, and that's a condition where the body makes very little testosterone and it's a condition that increases the risk of osteoporosis, fatigue, mood changes and sexual dysfunction.
Now, one thing is for sure, demand for testosterone treatment is way up. More than 1.75 million prescriptions for testosterone products were written in 2002. That's a 170 percent increase from 1999.
COSTELLO: So is this...
FRYHOFER: And I've got some here.
COSTELLO: You've got some. Is there a down side to this? Is it safe?
FRYHOFER: Well, we don't know for sure, Carol, and that's the big question here. One of the biggest concerns is it possibly could spur the growth of prostate cancer, which is already a big risk for men as they age. There are also concerns it could increase the risk of heart disease because it has unfavorable effects on the lipid profiles. Certain forms, an oral form can cause liver damage. And it can worsen symptoms of sleep apnea.
So the Institute of Medicine is calling for more studies. But remember, testosterone is not a cure all for the aging man. Often losing weight, drinking less alcohol, stopping smoking and exercising more often can help those testosterone levels return to normal on their own. So if they get some of this gel, they also need to get a treadmill.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
Thank you, Dr. Sandy.
We appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
