Wednesday Bubble: Male menopause gets the test

Posted by Liz on Dec 2, 2009 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Regular readers of this blog know that I take issue with the term “male menopause,” (aka, andropause) not only because it’s a misnomer but because, in my opinion, it is an overdiagnosed syndrome that may indeed, be a natural part of the aging process in men. So I was heartened to read that University of Pennsylvania researcher Peter Snyder is recruiting men for a new study — the T Trial —  that will investigate whether or not declining energy and physical function,  along with a low libido and memory issues are related to low testosterone levels or to the aging process itself.

According to the trial’s primary sponsor, the National Institute on Aging, a key impetus for this study was the burgeoning marketing of male hormone products as treatment for a variety of conditions. In fact, the market topped out at a whopping $809 million last year alone.  “We hope this trial will establish whether testosterone therapy results in clear benefits for older men,” said Evan C. Hadley, M.D., director of NIA’s Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology.

Although there are questions whether or not the study is of long enough duration to really evaluate if testosterone therapy is valuable, needed or safe, the study is the largest of its kind. Importantly, according to an article last Sunday’s Philadelphia Inquirer, some endocrinologists believe that andropause is more of a marketing tool than an actual syndrome. One is even quoted as saying that the best remedy for andropause is exercise.

So, what do you think? Is it time to burst this bubble or not?