Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is used to restore and maintain testosterone levels in men. TRT has traditionally been used to treat hypogonadism, which occurs when the testicles (also called the gonads) do not produce enough testosterone. RRT, or androgen replacement therapy (ART), is a treatment doctors give to men with testosterone deficiency and symptoms of hypogonadism. Testosterone replacement therapy is primarily used to treat low testosterone (T) levels that can occur with age or as a result of a medical condition.

Today, TRT is becoming more popular and involves boosting testosterone levels through injections, granules or creams. If other medical conditions or medications are causing testosterone levels to drop, doctors will usually treat the underlying condition before recommending TRT. Health Canada also says that men with low testosterone levels should not be prescribed the drug unless other possible causes have been ruled out. While the new national guidelines state that the diagnosis and treatment of low testosterone is “very controversial” and the evidence is “of questionable quality,” they state that “in most cases” men with testosterone deficiency should be treated with replacement therapy. , “even if they had stable cardiovascular disease.

Data from Ontario showed that between 1997 and 2012, testosterone prescribing increased to the point that approximately 1 in 90 men over 65 were prescribed testosterone, but only 6% had a definitive diagnosis of hypogonadism, justifying the prescribing. However, only 6% of men aged 66 years and older have been diagnosed with hypogonadism, a condition in which the body does not produce enough testosterone, which is the main indication for testosterone replacement therapy and the only one that allows reimbursement of the cost of drugs from the Ontario Drug Plan. Health Canada reports that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has increased by 310% in Ontario over the past 15 years, however only about 6% of men have actually been diagnosed with a condition requiring TRT.

Specifically, the American College of Physicians found that in 2016, the cost of transdermal testosterone replacement therapy was $2,135.32 per year, while the cost of injections was only $156.24. The costs associated with TRT may vary and may not be as high as you might think. If you have health insurance and need TRT for an illness, you may not pay the full cost.

Therefore, Health Canada recommends against the use of TRT in men without specific symptoms unless laboratory tests confirm low testosterone levels and a cardiovascular evaluation is required before initiating TRT. However, Gomez said men’s motivation to seek hormone replacement therapy is worrying because some recent studies suggest that testosterone replacement therapy may increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular problems in some men. Last year, Health Canada warned that testosterone replacement therapy could lead to “serious and possible health problems and life-threatening blood vessels, such as heart attack, stroke,” blood clots and irregular heartbeats.…