Even though some men may associate testosterone supplements with virility and revved up sex lives, that might just be a misconception. A new Harvard Medical School study found that older men with slightly low testosterone levels did not experience improvement in their desire or intimacy after they took testosterone supplements.
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The study followed about 300 men age 60 and older, who all had testosterone levels on the lower end of the normal range for men (a little over 300 nanograms per deciliter). Half of the men were given daily testosterone supplements, and another half took a placebo. Three years later, there were no differences between the two groups in how the men rated their level of sexual desire, erectile function and partner intimacy.
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It’s important to note that sexual function was not the main focus of the study, which limits the scientific robustness of the findings. However, the findings agree with previous research that similarly found that men with testosterone levels at the lower end of the normal range don’t see improvements in sexual function after taking testosterone supplements. The original study was aimed at determining whether testosterone supplements affect the progression of atherosclerosis — the thickening and hardening of arterial walls. And good news: The results found no difference between the groups in measures of atherosclerosis progression.
Curated article from LiveScience
