Testosterone Replacement for Osteoporosis

Low testosterone levels in older men can put them at risk for osteoporosis, which is a condition where the bones have become so weak, porous and fragile that they can snap like a twig with little provocation. Women suffer from osteoporosis even more frequently than men. Testosterone therapy may be a good choice for a young, healthy man who has low testosterone levels; however, this therapy is not advisable for older men, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Women may or may not benefit from testosterone therapy, but the use of testosterone therapy on women is still in the experimental stage.

Considerations

• Determining whether an older man with low testosterone levels should undergo testosterone therapy is based on his prostate health and cholesterol profile. Testosterone replacement therapy may increase levels of bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein). Testosterone may encourage prostate cancer, which is not good.

Features

• Evidence that a man's testosterone levels are low includes fatigue, depression and nervousness, decreased libido and inability to maintain an erection, poor memory and concentration, and hot sweats and flushes. Another sign is the absence of beard growth.

Women

• Postmenopausal women who have undergone testosterone and estrogen therapy experienced an increase in bone density, which wards off osteoporosis, according to the Test America Medical Center. These women also found that their sexual desire and level of sexual arousal increased. They had sex more often and increased sexual fantasies.

  The Mayo Clinic explains that testosterone therapy is not appropriate for women who are postmenopausal and have had uterine or breast cancer, or liver or cardiovascular diseases. Women are usually only prescribed testosterone if they have sufficient estrogen levels. The FDA has not approved testosterone therapy for women because there are side effects, such as acquiring male physical traits. A woman who is pregnant should not take testosterone because her fetus can take on male characteristics.

Risks

• Testosterone, like estrogen, does protect one's bones. However, treating a man with testosterone in an effort to ward off porous bones or other problems can be risky and is considered controversial. If a man has had breast cancer or prostate cancer, he should not even consider testosterone therapy, because testosterone can result in hormonally sensitive cancers growing rapidly, notes Dr. Michael A. Werner, M.D., a male menopause specialist. Testosterone therapy can also lead to fluid retention, which makes legs and ankles swell, and the worsening of blood pressure that is already high. Fluid retention is associated with congestive heart failure as well.

Options

• If a man is unable to take testosterone therapy, he can take other drugs to ward off male osteoporosis, including teriparatide, alendronate and risedonrate, which stimulate new bone growth.