Testosterone supplementation did not show consistent benefit for cardiovascular risk , sexual function , mood and behavior , or cognition .
Studies that examined clinical cardiovascular endpoints have not favored testosterone therapy over placebo .
Testosterone is ineffective in treating erectile dysfunction and controlled trials did not show a consistent effect on libido .
Testosterone supplementation consistently increased muscle strength but did not have beneficial effects on physical function .
Most studies on mood-related endpoints found no beneficial effect of testosterone treatment on personality , psychological well-being , or mood .
Testosterone products are recommended by some prescribers in response to a diagnosis or presumption of " low testosterone " ( low-T ) for cardiovascular health , sexual function , muscle weakness or wasting , mood and behavior , and cognition .
Transdermal androgen therapy to augment EPO in the treatment of anemia of chronic renal disease.
BACKGROUND Hypogonadism and anemia are common comorbid conditions in dialysis patients .  Testosterone replacement may improve such clinical parameters as anemia , sarcopenia , and low libido . Additionally , by increasing hemoglobin levels , testosterone replacement may allow for a dose reduction in recombinant human erythropoietin ( rHuEPO ) , thereby reducing cost . METHODS This phase IV , single-center , placebo-controlled , double-blind study assessed the effect of transdermal testosterone on serum testosterone levels , rHuEPO dose required to maintain hemoglobin level , bone mineral content , lean body mass and fat content , cholesterol level , sexual function , and mood . Forty hypogonadal male hemodialysis patients who were administered rHuEPO were r and omly assigned to 100 mg of topical 1 % testosterone gel ( Testim ; Auxilium Pharmaceuticals , Norristown , PA ) or placebo , applied daily for 6 months . RESULTS Forty men with a mean age of 56 years and baseline serum testosterone level less than 300 ng/dL ( < 10.4 nmol/L ) participated in this trial . In men assigned to administration of transdermal testosterone , there was an increase beyond that in the placebo group in mean serum testosterone ( 77.1 ng/dL [ 2.7 nmol/L ] ) , dihydrotestosterone ( DHT ; 0.8 nmol/L ) , and estradiol levels ( 6.3 pg/mL [ 23.0 pmol/L ] ) and a decrease in mean serum luteinizing hormone levels ( -3.1 IU/L ) . Compared with subjects administered placebo , participants on testosterone replacement therapy did not show an appreciable change in  rHuEPO dose ( mean difference adjusted for baseline values , 12.6 U/kg/wk ; P = 0.73 ) , bone mineral density , lean body mass or fat content , cholesterol level , sexual function , or mood . CONCLUSION Daily administration of 100 mg of topical 1 % testosterone gel for 6 months failed to significantly increase serum testosterone or DHT levels in hypogonadal men with end-stage renal disease . Treatment with transdermal testosterone did not impact on rHuEPO requirement or clinical parameters in this small placebo-controlled study . Greater serum testosterone levels may be required to show clinical benefit in men with end-stage renal disease
Testosterone supplementation did not show consistent benefit for cardiovascular risk , sexual function , mood and behavior , or cognition .
Studies that examined clinical cardiovascular endpoints have not favored testosterone therapy over placebo .
Testosterone is ineffective in treating erectile dysfunction and controlled trials did not show a consistent effect on libido .
Testosterone supplementation consistently increased muscle strength but did not have beneficial effects on physical function .
Most studies on mood-related endpoints found no beneficial effect of testosterone treatment on personality , psychological well-being , or mood .
Testosterone products are recommended by some prescribers in response to a diagnosis or presumption of " low testosterone " ( low-T ) for cardiovascular health , sexual function , muscle weakness or wasting , mood and behavior , and cognition .