do testosterone peptides affect the prostate FAQ

Two experts examine the pros and cons of this controversial practice At some point in their 40s, men’s testosterone production begins to slow. By some estimates, levels of this hormone drop by about 1% a year. As men get into their 50s, 60s, and beyond, they may start to have signs and symptoms of low testosterone. These include reduced sex drive and sense of vitality, erectile dysfunction, decreased energy, lower muscle mass and bone density, and anemia. When severe, these signs and symptoms characterize a condition called hypogonadism. Researchers estimate that hypogonadism affects two to six million men in the United States. Yet it is an underdiagnosed problem, with only about 5% of those affected receiving treatment, according to the FDA. Deciding which patients should receive testosterone supplementation has proved tricky, however. For example, little consensus exists on what constitutes low testosterone. (The Endocrine Society considers a man to have low testosterone if the blood level is less than 300 ng/dl; some physicians set higher or lower benchmarks.) In addition, some men may have low blood levels of testosterone but not experience any symptoms. And few large, randomized studies on the long-term risks or benefits of testosterone supplementation have been completed. One of the most heated debates centers on whether testosterone fuels prostate cancer. If that’s true, say some experts, then why do men develop prostate cancer when they are older, at the same time their testosterone levels are dropping? (See Figure 1.) Others point to the fact that many men with prostate cancer, especially those with advanced or metastatic cancers, take hormone therapy that nearly stops the production of testosterone to tamp down the disease. Under the influence of hormone therapy, tumors regress. So wouldn’t the opposite be true — that giving a man testosterone will accelerate or promote tumor growth?

While testosterone can increase the growth of prostate cancer cells, conditions such as hypogonadism benefit from people taking testosterone. Research suggests that testosterone therapy does not increase the risk of cancer returning.

Testosterone does not cause recurrent prostate cancer. The disease can return if some cancer cells remain after treatment or if some spread to a different part of the body before treatment.

Testosterone can cause prostate cancer cells to grow, as can other androgens, such as dihydrotestosterone, known as DHT. As a result, when doctors are treating prostate cancer, they may aim to reduce androgen levels alongside other therapies or surgery. Hormone therapy, also known as androgen deprivation therapy, is a form of treatment that either lowers androgen levels or reduces their effects on cell growth. There are

Some cancer survivors may have low testosterone levels. This is because of the effects of treatments such as chemotherapy and hormone therapy.