As many men are now aware, certain low testosterone treatment (low-T) products have been allegedly causing men to experience sudden cardiac attacks. There are many theories as to how this has become a large-scale problem, but many agree that it may be due to unnecessary prescriptions and fraudulent marketing campaigns.

Examining this alleged causation, the University of Texas Medical Branch conduced a recent study that observed the rate of men prescribing to low-T products, despite having normal testosterone levels based on the Endocrine Society’s guidelines. The study found that 30 percent of new testosterone patients did not have prostate screening the year before starting their respective low-T treatments, with 56 percent not screened a year after starting the low-T therapy.

The study also found that 39 percent of new testosterone users did not have a prostate cancer screening during the year before treatment and 56 percent were not screened during the year after starting treatment. During this study, American middle-aged men and older men had started prescribing to low-T products at a rapid rate. However, it was noted that not many men knew or understood the risk of cardiac events in the study. According to the Endocrine Society, patients should only receive testosterone therapy if they show no signs or have no history of prostate cancer, and if they have a testosterone-depleting condition, like hypogonadism.

Over 61,000 men from across the country were recorded in this study, taking note of how many men had normal testosterone levels when they first started using their low-T products, as well as the rates of prostate cancer screening before and during testosterone therapy. This study collected data from health insurance companies, and observed men 40 years or older that used low-T products between 2001 to 2010. It was published in the Feb. 26, 2015 issue of Public Health Reports, which showed that men neglected their prostate exam and were unaware of any other complications.

The results of the study showed low rates of prostate cancer development, but still left medical experts concerned because of the lack of awareness the patients had about the risk of prostate cancer, as well as any other side effects. Cardiac complications have become a major source of concern for patients using low testosterone products, because they had been unaware of this association for years. This has reportedly resulted in numerous injury reports and intense litigation action.

Overview of Testosterone Complications

The concern of low testosterone cardiac events had been at the back of the minds of physicians for years, but had come to light when a 2013 study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. For three years, this study examined over 8,000 men who had used low testosterone treatment products, and found that they faced a 30 percent increased risk of experiencing heart attack, stroke, or death. This study was almost immediately followed up by a significant study published in the January 2014 issue of PLOSOne, which examined a larger pool of patients. Along with the increased risk, the 2014 study found that younger men with pre-existing heart conditions were at risk for a blood-clot event, with elderly men being at risk regardless.

Testosterone is naturally produced inside both men and women, and is famously known for being responsible for stimulating the libido, muscle growth, and bone mass in men. As men age, their testosterone levels naturally decrease, which leads to symptoms like lack of libido, weight gain, hair loss, erection difficulty, and irritability. However, these and other symptoms associated with aging were featured on various low-T product advertisements, which stated that these signs meant that men were suffering from a testosterone decreasing condition. This led to mass concern of the men in America, who then requested low-T prescriptions, whether or not they were needed.

Even with awareness of these problems, doctors still write over 5 million low-T prescriptions per year. A majority of men are still unaware that these products are alleged to cause blood clotting, and often do not find out until after they suffer a thrombotic event.