Testosterone therapy: Potential benefits and risks as you age

Testosterone therapy: Potential benefits and risks as you age

Treating normal aging with testosterone therapy is not advisable. It also can happen early for medical reasons, such as surgery to remove the ovaries. If you’ve gone through either type of menopause, testosterone therapy may help for low sex drive that has no clear cause. More research is needed to find out whether this treatment is safe and effective before menopause. Most women benefit from a treatment approach aimed at the many causes behind this condition.

Make sure your doctor knows if your sexual partner is pregnant. If a pregnancy occurs while you are using this medicine, tell your doctor right away. This medicine may cause changes in the level of cholesterol and fats in your blood. If this condition occurs, your doctor may give you a medicine to adjust the cholesterol and fats.

If you or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor right away. Hypercalcemia (high calcium in the blood) may occur in patients taking this medicine. This medicine may increase the risk of prostate cancer, especially in older men. Make sure your doctor knows if you have prostate cancer, or if anyone in your family has prostate cancer.

If you think your blood pressure is too high, call your doctor right away. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Some men who use this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children). Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you plan to have children. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

Talk with your doctor before you use this medicine if you plan to have children. If you feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose. If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor. The Aveed® brand is only available under a restricted distribution program called the Aveed® REMS program. Xyosted™ is available only with your doctor’s prescription. In some cases, this medicine may decrease the amount of sperm men make and affect their ability to have children.

Low sex drive can be challenging for you and your partner. It’s natural to feel frustrated or sad if you aren’t able to be as sexy and romantic as you want or used to be. The National Collegiate Athletic Association has banned DHEA use among athletes. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements. Testosterone injection is also used in women with breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic). If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible.

It may be used alone or in combination with other medicines such as an alpha-blocker (doxazosin, Cardura®) to treat BPH. For men with hair loss, finasteride will increase the number of scalp hairs but will not increase the amount of body hair. Masculinizing hormone therapy typically begins by taking testosterone. Testosterone usually is given through a shot, also called an injection, vasoactive intestinal peptide vip nasal spray or through a gel or patch applied to the skin. Hormone therapy for prostate cancer is used to block the hormone testosterone in the body. Testosterone fuels the growth of prostate cancer cells.

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine.

Recommendations may include sex education, counseling, and sometimes medicine and hormone therapy. If you take hormone therapy for prostate cancer, you’ll have regular follow-up meetings with your doctor. Your doctor may ask about any side effects you’re experiencing. These medicines treat advanced prostate cancer that no longer responds to other hormone therapy treatments. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals.