Two Studies Further Weaken Support for Testosterone Therapy in Older Men

The Testosterone Trials are a set of interrelated U.S. multicenter randomized controlled trials of testosterone therapy in older men. The overall study involved 788 men (mean age, 72) with serum testosterone levels <275 ng/dL and at least one qualifying symptom: low libido or sexual function, difficulty walking, or fatigue. Participants were randomized to testosterone gel therapy (adjusted to maintain testosterone levels of 350 to 800 ng/dL) or placebo for 12 months. The overall results have been reported previously (NEJM JW Gen Med Mar 15 2016 and N Engl J Med 2016; 374:611) and showed statistically significant, but clinically modest, improvement in sexual function. Results of two individual studies that addressed the effect of testosteron…