There’s not much I find more maddening than when research proves what Dr. Wright and his natural medicine colleagues have been saying for years and the so-called “experts” STILL continue to waffle about the results.
The latest example happened back in August, when the Archives of Internal Medicine published a study showing that men with low levels of testosterone had an 88 percent higher risk of death than men with normal levels of this hormone. (I first told you about the results of this study in the 9/13/06 eTip, subject line: “Less of a man.”) But despite this dramatic and unsettling finding, the lead researcher of the study “warned that her research not be license for men to go dashing for the testosterone.”
Why on earth NOT?!
They claim that the “unmeasured risk factors” make testosterone replacement therapy a risky proposition for men. Riskier than an 88 percent increased risk of death?
Sure, there are always risks — as is the case with anything. But if high levels of testosterone were truly dangerous, then teenage boys — whose levels run rampant — would have the highest incidence of the conditions this hormone has been blamed for (most notably, prostate cancer).
The biggest risk to look out for is the type of testosterone you’re using to bring your levels back up to normal. Bottom line: If it’s not bio-identical, don’t use it. Bio-identical hormones are ones that exactly mimic what your body produces on its own (or used to).
Once you’ve got the right type of testosterone, there are just a couple of small precautions to take: First, make sure to have your PSA level checked before you begin taking bio-identical testosterone. While testosterone does NOT cause prostate cancer, it does increase the growth rate of pre-existing cases, so it’s important to rule that out before starting a replacement program. Second, be sure to have your physician regularly monitor your testosterone-to-estrogen conversion. Some testosterone gets converted into estrogen in the body. This is a natural process that supplies your body with the small amount of estrogen it needs. But in some men, this conversion happens too quickly, leaving you with levels of estrogen that are much higher than they should be in men. The best way to screen for this is a 24-hour urine test for sex steroids, which your doctor can order for you.
A physician skilled in natural medicine can help you with all the steps involved in a bio-identical testosterone replacement program. To find one near you, contact the American College for Advancement in Medicine at (800)532-3688 or visit their website, www.acam.com.
