Testosterone therapy boosts libido in men over 65

Testosterone therapy may help restore sexual desire and walking ability and improve mood in men above 65, whose natural hormone levels have declined, according to clinical trials.

The team of researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and twelve other medical centers in the United States, in partnership with the National Institute on Aging conducted The Testosterone Trials (TTrials), a coordinated group of seven trials and analysed the results of the first three - Sexual Function, Physical Function and Vitality.

They found that testosterone treatment increased the blood testosterone level to mid-normal for young men. Testosterone also improved all aspects of sexual function, including sexual activity, sexual desire and the ability to get an erection.

Testosterone treatment did not significantly improve distance walked in six minutes when only men enrolled in the physical function trial were considered, but did increase the distance walked when all men in the TTrials were considered. The treatment did not improve energy but did improve mood and depressive symptoms.

principal investigator Peter J. Snyder said that the results of the TTrials show for the first time that testosterone treatment of older men who have unequivocally low testosterone levels does have some benefit. However, decisions about testosterone treatment for these men will also depend on the results of the other four trials, Cognitive Function, Bone, Cardiovascular, and Anemia, and the risks of testosterone treatment.

The study is published in the New England Journal of Medicine.