Testosterone implants

[shecky]

Any good, easy to digest science on the proper use and safety of these things? A local M.D. whom I'm acquainted with is offering some kind of testosterone level testing. And if your level is lower than average, you may benefit from a testosterone implant which he can provide for a nominal fee.... or so the spiel goes.

Sounds a bit quackish to me. Not that some folks may need such hormone replacement. But to offer this test to a curious general public seems may lead to possible unnecessary treatment.

This doc also sells nutritional supplements, vitamins of various sorts. Just aggressively enough to make my BS meter go off.

Needless to say, he's not my doc.

Any info out there? Personal experiences?

[epepke]

Originally posted by shecky
Any good, easy to digest science on the proper use and safety of these things? A local M.D. whom I'm acquainted with is offering some kind of testosterone level testing. And if your level is lower than average, you may benefit from a testosterone implant which he can provide for a nominal fee.... or so the spiel goes.

What's a "testosterone implant"? I've seen testosterone used therapeutically, mostly for AIDS patients, which when you come to think of it, in terms of overall health, is not the best idea on the planet. There are testosterone patches and testosterone injections, is an implant some sort of delivery system?

Back in the 20s, rich older men got monkey testicles grafted onto their own testicles, and for a short time it allowed them to go out and plook a bunch of flappers. Is this similar?

[Wrath of the Swarm]

First, testosterone levels can vary significantly from one moment of time to the next.

Second, different people have different sensitivities to the hormone. Knowing the absolute level is meaningless unless you also know how the body responds to that level.

Third, having a value that is "below average" does not necessarily imply something is wrong.

Forth, unlike vitamin supplements, which are fairly unlikely to cause harm, testosterone-related substances can be quite dangerous. (Steroids, anyone?) Remember "do no harm"?

I sense improper behavior.