What a Single PSA Level at Midlife Can Tell You

Introduction

Low testosterone levels have been associated with a variety of symptoms, such as decreased energy, reduced muscle strength, and a low libido. It's reported to affect 4 to 5 million American males. The Alliance for Aging Research, which is a not-for-profit advocacy organization, recently commissioned a survey of men over 39 aimed at determining how much they knew about testosterone levels in the body, and the effects of low levels, or low T, as it's sometimes called1

What was done

Harris Interactive carried out the survey on men over 39 years of age; it was conducted online within the United States between January 17 and January 24, 2006, with a final nation-wide sample of 522 men. Figures for age, sex, race, education and income were weighted, where necessary, to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' tendency to be online. The size of the survey was such that one might expect with 95% certainty that the overall results have a sampling error of +4.3 percentage points.

What was found

1. One third of the men reported experiencing two or more symptoms of low T out of the following: decreased energy, low libido, reduced muscle strength, increased body fat, weaker bones, and mood swings.

2. Of these, 95% stated that their doctors did not mention low T as a possible cause.

3. Ninety-one percent of men did not know of, or were unsure of, the symptoms associated with low T.

4. Participants stated that they would be willing to take a prescription medication to improve their energy levels (60%) or to decrease their body fat (57%).

Consequences

The survey suggests that the majority of men in America do not associate certain aspects of physical decline with a possible clinical deficiency of testosterone. The common assumption that these symptoms are attributable to the 'normal' aging process may often prevent them from seeking diagnosis and treatment. "Men too often accept declining health and vitality as a consequence of getting old," said Daniel Perry, Executive Director of Alliance for Aging Research. "We know that low testosterone can be an underlying cause of symptoms previously attributed to aging, and we now have FDA-approved therapeutics in the form of testosterone replacement therapy that can effectively address the condition. We expect that broader education of the public on the symptoms of Low T will enable more patients to be properly diagnosed and treated."

"Because of its association with health risks such as diabetes, depression and osteoporosis, low testosterone should be as much of a health concern for men over 40 as heart disease, cancer and stroke," said Andre T. Guay MD, Director, Center For Sexual Function/Endocrinology, Lahey Clinic Medical Center, North Shore.

A Word of Warning

In considering testosterone replacement therapy, it should be recognized that there are a number of unhealthy and damaging effects from the use of anabolic steroids, which can lead to both emotional and physical problems. Replacement therapy must be done under a doctor's supervision, with appropriate blood level testing.

Studies have shown that abuse of steroids can increase aggressive behavior, cause mood swings, and impair judgment. More recent studies have reported an association between steroid use and later abuse of other harmful drugs. Other reported effects include male-pattern baldness, acne, and blood-filled liver cysts, which have ruptured resulting in death. Using steroids can increase the risk of heart disease, stimulate the growth of certain cancers, and worsen other medical problems. Steroids taken orally have been linked to liver disease.
The Harris Interactive survey was financed by Auxilium Pharmaceuticals and Oscient Pharmaceuticals, who market a testosterone gel product (Testim®).

Source

  • Harris Interactive Survey: "Low Testosterone: Men's Health Condition in the Shadows," commissioned by the Alliance for Aging Research. 2006.

Footnotes
1. Testosterone is the androgenic hormone primarily responsible for normal growth and development of male sex organs. It facilitates the development of secondary male sex characteristics such as musculature, bone mass, fat distribution, male hair patterns and deepening of the voice. The normal range for total testosterone in men is generally 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL), depending on the lab performing the test and the methodology used.