Can testosterone therapy raise prostate or heart risk?
Before starting testosterone, many men ask whether it could harm the prostate or the heart. The Endocrine Society's patient guidance speaks to both.
What the Endocrine Society says about risk
The Endocrine Society's patient library tells readers: "You should discuss with your physician how to monitor for prostate cancer and other risks to your prostate. Men with known or suspected prostate or breast cancer should not receive testosterone therapy. You should also talk to your doctor about the risks of testosterone therapy if you have, or are at risk for, heart disease or stroke."
Read as cause and effect, the guidance names two areas where treatment calls for a plan: the prostate, where monitoring is advised, and the heart and circulation, where risk should be discussed. It also names a group who should not receive therapy at all.
Questions to settle before a first dose
- How will my prostate be monitored, and how often?
- Does my history of heart disease or stroke, or my risk of it, change the plan?
- What tests come before and during treatment?
Reading the primary material
MedlinePlus explains the testosterone levels test. The Endocrine Society publishes guideline resources on testosterone therapy for hypogonadism, a statement on testosterone replacement therapy, and a patient page on hypogonadism in men.
A fair way to judge a clinic
A provider who raises prostate monitoring and heart history on their own, before you ask, is covering what the guidance tells you to discuss. If they skip those topics, bring them up yourself.