What Are The Risks Considered in Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

Potential patients who are considering testosterone replacement therapy are naturally concerned about risks with treatment. Patients need to keep in mind that their bodies already produce testosterone. The testosterone molecule that is administered is the same as the one that the body produces naturally. The primary of goal of testosterone replacement therapy is to bring back the patient’s concentration of testosterone to a level that they had 10 to 20 years prior.

In some cases, patients may be advised to proceed with caution if certain health conditions exist, which is why a complete blood panel is done prior to administering any testosterone. As an example, testosterone may increase hematocrit, which is the ratio of red blood cells in the bloodstream. In the event that the hematocrit rises, there may be potential for the blood’s viscosity to change, making it thicker and prompting the possibility of stroke and or blood clots. However, this is only theoretical and there are almost no cases where medically supervised testosterone replacement therapy caused a stroke or serious clotting in a patient in the United States.

Moreover, in rare cases, medical professionals are hesitant in prescribing testosterone to patients with compromised liver function, weak kidneys, and/or any type of congestive heart failure. Testosterone may also cause an increase in oil that is produced by the skin which may result in acne, but this is in rare cases as is gynecomastia (an enlargement of the breast) and/or sleep apnea.