US - Low testosterone means men may die young... [2007-06-06 NMN]

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Low testosterone means men may die young

Men's Health News

Wednesday, 06-Jun-2007

A new study suggests that men with low levels of testosterone are
more likely to die young; they apparently have a 33% increased risk
of death over an 18-year period than those with higher levels.

The researchers at the University of California's San Diego School of
Medicine, say such men are less likely to reach middle age compared
with those who have high levels of the male sex hormone.

The study findings provide more evidence that there may be a case for
some men being placed on "testosterone replacement therapy" - the
male equivalent of hormone replacement therapy in women.

The decline in the levels of the hormone is called the andropause or
male menopause.

The researchers said it was too early, however, to recommend that
vulnerable men use testosterone patches.

The study's lead author Dr. Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, says though the
findings have very exciting and important implications, they are not
advocating that men should take testosterone to prolong their lives.

Dr. Barrett-Connor suggests it is possible that lifestyle determines
the level of a man's testosterone and it may be that testosterone
levels can be altered by lowering obesity.

Testosterone is a hormone produced in the testes; it triggers the
onset of puberty and is closely associated with the libido.

Experts say testosterone levels vary widely from man to man and often
fall with age and fatherhood.

Low testosterone levels have been associated with a lower sex drive,
mood swings, weaker muscles and a greater risk of osteoporosis.

For the study the researchers examined the medical histories of 800
Californian men, aged 50 to 91, who were taking part in a chronic
disease study started in the 1970s.

It was found at the start of the 1980s that a third of the men had
unusually low testosterone levels for their age.

The difference could not be explained by smoking, drinking, physical
activity or pre-existing illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes
and this group of men had a 33 per cent greater risk of dying during
the next 18 years than the men with high testosterone levels.

The researchers say why low testosterone is linked to premature death
is unclear but men with the lowest levels were more likely to be
obese, have high blood pressure and high levels of "bad" cholesterol.

Experts say levels of testosterone in men of all ages are falling and
the study is of interest because of the association with metabolic
syndrome, the risk factors for which include waist measurement over
102 cms, high levels of cholesterol, high blood pressure and high
blood sugar.

They say the use of testosterone supplements is a contentious one
because of the potential side effects.

The team presented their findings at the Endocrine Society conference
in Toronto.

what is harry benjamin syndrome

understaning Harry Benjamin Syndrome in Males.

The Physical Symptoms of Harry Benjamin Syndrome (HBS) in Males
reproductive organs that are incongruent with the male identity
menstruation-bleeding and hormone imbalance
impaired phallus functionality
gynecomastia
hypogonadism
Genital appearance at birth, gonads and chromosomes are not completely reliable determinants of an individual's sex. In the majority of the population, these markers are congruent with innate sexual identification, however in HBS, as with a number of other conditions such as CAH and AIS, these commonly used predictors of a individual's sex are ineffective.
If untreated, males with this condition often experience depression, along with extreme personal discomfort (dysphoria). Most resort to typical male pattern strategies to manage their trauma. Many have a history of suicide attempts, or substance abuse.

We do not "change sex"
Many men with HBS require Hormone Replacement Therapy and some undergo corrective surgery to align incongruent physical characteristics with their "true" gender in order to experience a greater sense of self congruence.
HBS is NOT a mental illness
In the majority of cases depression and dysphoria cease after affirmation of an individuals identified gender and they are then free to live as a fully functional, contributing member of society.