What Are the Benefits of Testosterone Therapy?

Low testosterone levels may be a natural result of aging in men and women or an indication of a medical condition. Treatment with testosterone therapy offers some help with the problems associated with the decline of this hormone.

Sexual Function

• Testosterone therapy trials on male subjects have shown an improvement in sexual performance for patients with erectile dysfunction stemming from low levels of testosterone, but not in the presence of neurological or vascular problems.

Cardiovascular Disease

• Low levels of testosterone in men and women cause a decrease in muscle mass and a corresponding increase in body fat as the metabolism slows. Testosterone therapy offers improvement in lean body mass and a reduction in body fat, thereby reducing the possibility of cardiovascular disease.

Osteoporosis

• As testosterone levels diminish, bone mineral density decreases, causing osteoporosis in both men and women at different stages of aging. Though testing for the results of testosterone therapy are still being conducted, evidence available to date shows improvement in bone mineral density.

Energy Levels

• Energy levels may increase with testosterone therapy as the result of an increase in lean body mass---muscle development---which translates into higher levels of physical activity.

Improved Memory

• Testosterone plays a role in cognitive ability. Some studies have shown that using testosterone therapy to increase the hormone in participants to levels commensurate with youth promotes significant improvement in this area.