Health: New Warning About Testosterone Therapy

By Stephanie Stahl

PHILADELPHIA (CBS)--A new warning about a popular treatment that many men say makes them feel like Superman.  3 On Your Side Health Reporter Stephanie Stahl has more on the new research.

Like millions of men, David Rambo had low testosterone and was prescribed hormone replacement, which he said made him feel great.

"There was a noticeable energy difference for sure which was pretty powerful," said David.

Sales of testosterone replacement products have skyrocketed.  Dubbed Viagra for the boardroom by some, doctors say it can enhance mental clarity, sexual function and more.

While testosterone replacement can help with strength training, a new study of 8,700 veterans found it can also increase the risk of stroke, heart attack and death by 29 percent.

"It's an alarm to just make sure that the men who are taking testosterone are taking it for the right reasons and are getting benefit from it because there may be some risk," said Dr. Anne Cappola with Penn Medicine.

She wrote an editorial for the new research in the Journal of the American Medical Association.  She says testosterone replacement is known to be potentially dangerous for older men with heart issues, but the new research done on men in their 60's found risks even for healthy men.

It's uncertain if the study results apply to younger men

Stahl asked David, "Are you glad you stopped taking it? David replied, "Absolutely.  Absolutely.  That's terrifying.

While testosterone helped him lose weight, David stopped taking it mainly because it interfered with fertility, when he wanted another child.  Now he says he keeps his testosterone levels healthy with diet and exercise.

JAMA Testosterone Study- http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1764051