Summary
Highlights
Dr. Thomas O'Connor introduces his background in internal medicine and testosterone health, emphasizing the specific need for specialized care for men on hormone therapy.
The top reason to stop testosterone is to restore fertility. Exogenous testosterone shuts down sperm production, and while recovery protocols exists, they are complex, expensive, and not guaranteed.
Severe medical complications like uncontrolled erythrocytosis, hereditary hemochromatosis, or specific cases of prostate cancer may necessitate stopping therapy, though many of these can be managed by an experienced physician.
If a patient has undergone a proper trial of therapy under qualified care and still experiences no improvement in symptoms after a year, it is recommended to cease the treatment.
Dr. O'Connor addresses common misconceptions about stopping therapy, such as being 'too old,' having been on it 'too long,' or fearing addiction, clarifying that these are not inherent medical reasons to stop.