The satisfying TRUTH about testosterone replacement therapy

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has long been stuck in medical limbo.

First it was dangerous… then it wasn’t.

One decade you’re warned it could raise your risk of heart attack… and the next, those same warnings start quietly disappearing.

Confused? You’re not alone.

Fortunately, a major FDA-mandated study has finally delivered the satisfying truth about TRT…

The TRAVERSE trial delivers long-awaited answers

Let’s start with the science.

The TRAVERSE trial followed men on TRT and compared their outcomes to men taking a placebo over a two-year period. The goal? To determine whether testosterone actually increases the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack, stroke, or death.

Ultimately, they found there was NO increased risk of serious cardiac events in men using testosterone. Meaning the boxed warning about major cardiovascular events will now be removed.

That’s a BIG deal—especially in a climate where long-term clinical trials like this are becoming harder and harder to fund. If this study had been delayed even a few years, it might never have happened.

Of course, the drug label will still mention a possible increase in blood pressure (BP). But the longstanding fears around heart attacks and strokes? No longer supported by the data.

Labels will also continue to note the safety and efficacy of testosterone has not been established in children (DUH!) or men whose testosterone drops with age.

Well… you didn’t expect miracles, did you?

Hormone therapy lives in the grey

Before you run out and demand a prescription for TRT, let me be clear…

It isn’t for everyone. But when used correctly, it can be life-changing for the right patient.

Unfortunately, many doctors don’t treat hormones well. They either overprescribe without follow-up—or they’re too hesitant to adjust dosing.

See, hormone therapy is a work of art for both men and women—complete with nuances and careful observation—which is something modern medicine often avoids in favor of black-and-white thinking.

As I always say, medicine often lives in the grey—and hormone replacement therapy is no different. (And you know what? My favorite color is grey.)

When it comes to TRT, I always remind my patients that it’s a process. The first dose might not be the right one. It takes time, testing, and communication to find what works best. And yes—that’s perfectly normal.

While testosterone isn’t a “fountain of youth,” the symptoms of low testosterone are very real—and often overlooked. In fact, maintaining optimal levels with TRT has been associated with:

• Lower overall risk of a cardiovascular-related death
• Fewer strokes and heart attacks
• A reduced risk of prostate cancer

So, if you’ve been on the fence about TRT, I hope this helps clear the fog.

And if your doctor isn’t comfortable living in the grey with you… find one who is.

To learn more about testosterone, check out the September 2024 issue of my monthly newsletter, Logical Health Alternatives (“[BREAKING NEWS] Testosterone therapy finally ‘steps out of the shadows’?”). Click here now!

Sources:

“FDA Drops Testosterone’s Boxed Warning on Heart Attack, Stroke Risk.” MedPage Today, 03/03/25. (medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/steroids/114458)

“Long Term Cardiovascular Safety of Testosterone Therapy: A Review of the TRAVERSE Study.” The World Journal of MEN’s HEALTH, 2025. (wjmh.org/pdf/10.5534/wjmh.240081)