The Benefits and Risks of Testosterone Treatment in Older Hypogonadal Men.

As men age, their serum testosterone concentrations decrease-the total testosterone very little but the free testosterone more. Testosterone treatment of older men whose serum testosterone concentrations are unequivocally low to bring their testosterone levels to normal for young men improves their sexual function, walking, mood, bone mineral density, and hemoglobin, but does not improve their sense of vitality or cognitive function. This treatment has also been suspected of increasing the risk of prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and heart disease, but these possible risks have neither been confirmed nor refuted.