In clinical trials, nine per cent of patients taking Androderm discontinued therapy due to irritation or allergic contact dermatitis, while no patients discontinued Testoderm due to side effects. Both systems provide more physiologic levels of testosterone compared to the oral and IM routes of administration. A major concern with testosterone supplementation is the potential for increasing the risk of prostate cancer. 2 Two studies have shown a decrease in complications associated with benign prostatic hypertrophy during testosterone therapy. 2 Gynecomastia, secondary to testosterone conversion to estradiol in the peripheral tissue, can also occur.
Androgens can also potentially adversely affect the patient's lipid profile.
Testosterone supplementation may benefit some elderly men, but its routine use should be discouraged until more information is known. Androgen administration to aging men. Effects of testosterone supplementation in the aging male. Sih R, Morley JE, Kaiser FE, et al. Morley JE, Kaiser R, Sih R, et al.