The signs and symptoms of low
testosterone in the aging male include
erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, mood disturbances such as depression, loss of muscle mass,
osteoporosis, and increase in body fat. Many of these signs and symptoms were previously believed to be part of the normal aging process, and only recently has treatment of low
testosterone in the aging male been shown to provide long-term physical and mental improvement. In the past, oral and
injectable testosterone delivery methods had disadvantages that limited their use, but the introduction of transdermal
testosterone patches has allowed
testosterone to be delivered into the circulation in a consistent fashion. Long-term use of these patches over the last 3 to 10 years has been effective in maintaining sexual function and bone and muscle mass, and from short-term studies it does not appear that
testosterone treatment puts men at risk for the development of
prostate cancer. A new topical gel formation (
Testim) has been designed to provide consistent transdermal absorption of
testosterone over 24 hours after a single dose.