Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 36 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
General News    H4'ed 7/4/15

Are Men Falling for the Same Hormone Con as Women?

By       (Page 1 of 3 pages)   1 comment
Message Martha Rosenberg
Become a Fan
  (84 fans)

Recently, an editorial in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society cited "disease mongering" of testosterone to men for conditions for which it is not approved. Increasingly low libido, obesity and other age-related changes are attributed to "Low T" or low testosterone.

Most people gain weight as they age
Most people gain weight as they age
(Image by Martha Rosenberg)
  Details   DMCA

This spring, I interviewed a coauthor of the editorial, Thomas Perls MD, MPH, professor of Medicine, Geriatrics and Graduate Medical Sciences and director, New England Centenarian Study at Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine. He defined disease-mongering as "inventing new broader definitions of a disease or even the invention of a disease in conjunction with widespread marketing to increase sales of specific drugs and therapies."

True instances of testosterone deficiency such as hypogonadism are rare, he said but "massive marketing campaigns" now claim that common middle age symptoms like lack of energy, poor sleep and poor libido will respond to testosterone and the number of men labeled with Low T has sky-rocketed. Hypogonadism, a condition which is legitimately treated with testosterone, was redefined and some of the consensus panels were sponsored by pharmaceutical companies making and marketing testosterone, he told me.

Both the FDA and Health Canada warn of an increased risk of blood clots in the legs and lungs from testosterone therapy. Cardiac rhythm disturbances like atrial fibrillation and symptoms of coronary artery disease are seen in the patients on the hormone therapy and even violent behavior ("roid rage") impulsiveness and suicide Dr. Perls told me. Studies suggests dormant cancers can be accelerated or activated by testosterone stimulation.

Sales of testosterone products in the US were $2 billion in 2012.

Of course everyone (except hormone hawkers) realizes that people lose hormones because they age, they do not age because they lose hormones. But there should be another level of outrage to this marketing: this whole sad scenario has unfolded before--twice, when addressed to women.

Hormones are not the fountain of youth
Hormones are not the fountain of youth
(Image by martha Rosenberg)
  Details   DMCA

A bestselling book in 1966 called Feminine Forever by Robert A. Wilson, a Wyeth funded gynecologist, told women they would be "flabby," "shrunken," "dull-minded," and "desexed" unless they took hormone replacement therapy. "No woman can be sure of escaping the horror of this living decay," he warned. A 1946 Smith, Kline and French ad in Psychosomatic Medicine, actually calls electric shock and estrogenic therapy "fundamental measures" for menopause. Yes, you read that correctly.

Next Page  1  |  2  |  3

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Valuable 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Martha Rosenberg Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Martha Rosenberg is an award-winning investigative public health reporter who covers the food, drug and gun industries. Her first book, Born With A Junk Food Deficiency: How Flaks, Quacks and Hacks Pimp The Public Health, is distributed by Random (more...)
 

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Grassley Investigates Lilly/WebMD link Reported by Washington Post

The Drug Store in Your Tap Water

It's the Cymbalta Stupid

Are You Sure You're Not Psychotic Asks Shameless Drug Company?

Another Poorly Regulated "Derivative"--the Antidepressant Pristiq

MRSA and More. Antibiotics Linked to Obesity and Allergies, Too

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend