THE NEW TESTOSTERONE PATCHES

Report #6440 2/20/95

Drug companies have submitted petitions to the FDA for a new testosterone skin patch that can help older men to be more sexual, muscular and assertive.

Between the ages of 50 and 70, blood levels of the male hormone, testosterone drop by more than 40%, decreasing male assertiveness, muscular strength and sexuality. This can be prevented by taking testosterone. There are two major concerns about older men taking testosterone: heart attacks and prostate cancer. Testosterone pills go to the liver, lower blood levels of the good HDL cholesterol and markedly increase a man's chances of getting a heart attack. Testosterone injections and skin patches do not lower HDL cholesterol. However, many men do not like injections that must be taken every 2 or 3 weeks. The only available skin patch can be used only on the scrotum where it often irritates the skin. The new skin patch can be placed anywhere. The other concern is that extra testosterone may cause prostate enlargement or cancer. The prostate is stimulated to grow by a derivative of the male hormone, testosterone, and can become so large that it squeezes the urinary tube, causing difficulty starting the stream and it can prevent complete emptying of the bladder, causing frequent urination. The skin patch is not likely to cause prostate cancer or enlargement.

Neither prostate enlargement nor cancer is associated with high blood levels of testosterone, increased sexual desire or frequent lovemaking. Testosterone does not raise blood levels of the Prostate Specific Antigen which is associated with an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer.

By Gabe Mirkin, M.D., for CBS Radio News