Male Menopause / Testosterone  
AndroGel, the newly released testosterone gel has been very effective in raising testosterone levels in men, and is easier to use than injection therapy, and causes less skin reactions than the patch.  In addition there are several oral preparations of testosterone in trials, as well as sublingual, and buccal pouch (cheek) versions.  This is in response to increasing interest in baby boomer males approaching what some consider the male menopause.  In the mid-fifties, there is declining testosterone level, though still in the normal range.  This is associated with decreasing libido, weakness, depression, decreasing muscle mass, and a tendency to male bone loss.  The gel has been shown to decrease body fat, and to increase lean body mass, possibly with decreased heart disease. Some physicians treat men over 65 with weakness and decreased libido when the serum testosterone is below 350mg/dl.  Others are using it for those with end-stage kidney disease, osteoporosis, or those on chronic steroids.  Questions of safety include the lowering of protective HDL-cholesterol, the stimulation of prostate growth, and the stimulation of prostate cancer. As the preparations become easier to use, and long term studies show no significant long-term dangers, we can expect to possibly think of using testosterone in the same way that women in menopause use estrogens.