Testosterone

‍FDA opens to reconsider warnings – what does it mean for men's health?

The FDA signaled this week that it may change the current “black-box warnings” for testosterone.
That’s potentially good news for men with low testosterone, a condition linked to fatigue, low libido, depression, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

What received less space during the meeting was the growing trend to use testosterone in anti-aging and longevity programs – something that has become popular in Silicon Valley and also among profiles with political influence.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., for example, has told Lex Fridman’s podcast that he uses testosterone as part of his anti-aging program.
Joe Rogan has described similar effects.

Urologist Larry Lipshultz summed up the development:

“The older the person is, if he looks fantastic, the more likely it is he's probably taking T.”

Why is testosterone so debated?

Testosterone is classified as a controlled drug, a regulation that was introduced after doping scandals in the 80s.
This has made many doctors cautious, even when treatment is actually justified.

Several experts on this week's panel urged the FDA to reconsider the classification, and the agency's representatives were open to new perspectives.

A change could lead to more doctors daring to prescribe testosterone – but also to the risk of overprescribing, especially via online clinics.

Urologist Mohit Khera pointed out that testosterone is often misunderstood:

“Testosterone therapy is not just about sex and muscles.”

He described testosterone levels as “the best barometer of a man's overall health.”

Khera also highlighted that even small doses of testosterone can make men infertile – something many patients are not aware of.

Many questions remain

Testosterone levels vary greatly between individuals, and a key question is when to treat men who are at the lower end of the normal range but have clear symptoms.

As Khera put it:

“Doubling your testosterone doesn't necessarily double your libido.”

Executive Health's perspective

Testosterone requires individualized assessment, specialist expertise and correct diagnostics.

Hormonal balance is an important marker of metabolic health, muscle mass, quality of life, and long-term risk.
At the same time, treatment must be medically justified, safe and sustainable over time.

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