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The Implications of Low Testosterone on Mortality in Men

  • MEDICAL COMORBIDITIES (AT GOLDSTEIN, M MINER, AND SJ PARISH, SECTION EDITORS)
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Abstract

Testosterone levels in men slowly decline with aging and also decline more abruptly due to medical illness or medications. Prescriptions for testosterone have increased dramatically over the past decade, since a testosterone gel formulation was approved and since numerous studies reported an association between low serum testosterone and increased mortality. However, recent observational studies of testosterone treatment have reported conflicting results with some studies reporting decreased risks for mortality while others reported increased mortality risks with testosterone treatment. This paper will summarize recent studies of low serum testosterone and mortality and testosterone treatment and mortality and what the potential implications of these studies are for the clinician.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Molly M. Shores reports no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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  1. VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S. Columbian Way, S-116A, Seattle, WA, 98108, USA

    Molly M. Shores

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Molly M. Shores

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  1. Molly M. Shores
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Correspondence to Molly M. Shores.

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Shores, M.M. The Implications of Low Testosterone on Mortality in Men. Curr Sex Health Rep 6, 235–243 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-014-0030-x

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