The New Male Obsession
"I wish men could step back from their testosterone-steeped minds and see themselves as handicapped, not enabled, by this hormone." JULIE FITZ Auburn Hills, Mich.
Your report on testosterone and its increased use revealed a depressing situation in America [HEALTH, April 24]. Men are striving for physical perfection but doing little about the degradation of basic moral values in society. Gun violence is becoming a regular occurrence. There are more pressing issues than trying to satisfy a man's insatiable ego by using testosterone gel. ROEL CONRAD E. JAMIS Cagayan de Oro City, the Philippines
My libido and energy level bottomed out a few years ago. I felt I was getting old fast at the still somewhat young age of 53. Now, thankfully, my doctor has me on a 150-mg shot of testosterone every two weeks. After more than a year of this regimen, I feel much more energetic and look great. I highly recommend T replacement for any male who would like to remain in vigorous health as opposed to enduring a long slow decline from his 50s on. PHIL MATHEWS San Francisco
At last! What women have known for years is public knowledge--men are just as insecure about and obsessed with their body image as women are accused of being. That's what I call progress! ALLISON STANDISH Austin, Texas
Your cover story contained an error regarding the dosage of Unimed Pharmaceuticals' AndroGel testosterone ointment. The approved use of AndroGel is for application once a day, not several times a day. Overuse of any testosterone product can result in levels of testosterone well above the upper-normal range that provide no known benefit and may increase the risk of side effects. Your report also stated that the daily dose of the gel could provide 10 mg to 40 mg of testosterone. In fact, a single dose of AndroGel delivers between 5 mg and 10 mg of the hormone, depending on the amount prescribed. Men who have normal levels of testosterone should not use any testosterone product. It is a powerful hormone whose usage requires the supervision of a physician. And finally, AndroGel should not be used by women. ROBERT E. DUDLEY PRESIDENT AND CEO Unimed Pharmaceuticals Inc. Deerfield, Ill.
One of the most serious consequences of testosterone-hormone use in men is sterility, because the production of testosterone and sperm in the testicles is inhibited. Therefore many men who take anabolic steroids are infertile. For adolescent boys or adult men with conditions that require testosterone, it is advised to supplement the hormone with a second treatment, one that stimulates sperm production. SARAH K. GIRARDI, M.D. New York City
I have experienced neither the highs of aggression nor the lows of depression that you reported as being so common with testosterone-hormone therapy. But there is one depressing fact: I now pay $149 for the same amount of product that four years ago cost me $22. SANFORD I. GOSSMAN San Rafael, Calif.
Yeah, right. More testosterone. Just what the world needs! TOM M. GEORGES Boulder, Colo.
The Testosteroni Man