Hormone replacement and a double standard?

[lizzie]

Just an observation, and something I've been thinking about.

I remember about 10-15 years ago, when the scare about female sex hormone replacement became a pretty widely publicized issue, and many women were taken off their HRT by their physicians, after they had been taking hormone replacement for sometimes, decades. Fast-forward to around 5 years ago. Low testosterone became an issue in advertising, and over the past year or so, I've really noticed an upswing in the numbers of men who take testosterone supplements. A couple of months ago, I was waiting in line at a pharmacy, and the man next to me had given his rx for testosterone to the pharmacy tech, who informed him that they were out of stock, and waiting for a shipment. I personally have several male friends who take testosterone, and I don't know a single woman anymore who takes estrogen tablets.

It's not a big issue to me personally, because I don't plan to take hormone therapy, although I have a gyn who would prescribe it if I wanted it. There are side effects to all hormone treatments/supplements, and I'm wondering why it seems to be much more acceptable to take testosterone if you're a man, but not estrogen, if you're a woman.

Any thoughts? Is there some type of double standard at play? What do you guys think?

 

[shlunka]

Ugh, you mean males actually want to take more of the stuff? They're hormonal enough naturally.

 

[Fisher]

I think a lot of men take it unnecessarily and are playing russian roulette. there are otc products for that too and it will do damage in time

 

[lizzie]

Ugh, you mean males actually want to take more of the stuff? They're hormonal enough naturally.

Not once they start aging significantly. Just as women have changes from drops in hormone levels, men do as well.

 

[Your Star]

Just an observation, and something I've been thinking about.

I remember about 10-15 years ago, when the scare about female sex hormone replacement became a pretty widely publicized issue, and many women were taken off their HRT by their physicians, after they had been taking hormone replacement for sometimes, decades. Fast-forward to around 5 years ago. Low testosterone became an issue in advertising, and over the past year or so, I've really noticed an upswing in the numbers of men who take testosterone supplements. A couple of months ago, I was waiting in line at a pharmacy, and the man next to me had given his rx for testosterone to the pharmacy tech, who informed him that they were out of stock, and waiting for a shipment. I personally have several male friends who take testosterone, and I don't know a single woman anymore who takes estrogen tablets.

It's not a big issue to me personally, because I don't plan to take hormone therapy, although I have a gyn who would prescribe it if I wanted it. There are side effects to all hormone treatments/supplements, and I'm wondering why it seems to be much more acceptable to take testosterone if you're a man, but not estrogen, if you're a woman.

Any thoughts? Is there some type of double standard at play? What do you guys think?

I think it has to do with some studies suggesting that HRT in post-menopausal women causes an increased risk of breast cancer.

Also with the fact that testosterone therapy is still relatively new, and the long term side-effects aren't well known. We could see an uptick in prostate cancer if the correlation is the same.

 

[lizzie]

I think it has to do with some studies suggesting that HRT in post-menopausal women causes an increased risk of breast cancer.

Also with the fact that testosterone therapy is still relatively new, and the long term side-effects aren't well known. We could see an uptick in prostate cancer if the correlation is the same.

Testosterone contributes to prostate cancer, and in fact, one of the treatments for prostate cancer is to take female hormones.

I had a friend who had prostate cancer. He hated the female hormone treatment, because of the emotional effects, and loss of male libido.

 

[Fisher]

Testosterone contributes to prostate cancer, and in fact, one of the treatments for prostate cancer is to take female hormones.

I had a friend who had prostate cancer. He hated the female hormone treatment, because of the emotional effects, and loss of male libido.

Well if it comes with boobs to distract ourselves with, it might not be that bad.

 

[lizzie]

Well if it comes with boobs to distract ourselves with, it might not be that bad.

:lol:

 

[Henrin]

If I can it when I get older I'm going to just that. I have no interest in losing my ability to keep myself fit. None. Sure, it might cause cancer, but as see it that is a risk I'm willing to take for having the body I want. As I see it I have no reason to accept a decline when I can do something to fight it. Sure, its dangerous, but whatever.

 

[Henrin]

Just an observation, and something I've been thinking about.

I remember about 10-15 years ago, when the scare about female sex hormone replacement became a pretty widely publicized issue, and many women were taken off their HRT by their physicians, after they had been taking hormone replacement for sometimes, decades. Fast-forward to around 5 years ago. Low testosterone became an issue in advertising, and over the past year or so, I've really noticed an upswing in the numbers of men who take testosterone supplements. A couple of months ago, I was waiting in line at a pharmacy, and the man next to me had given his rx for testosterone to the pharmacy tech, who informed him that they were out of stock, and waiting for a shipment. I personally have several male friends who take testosterone, and I don't know a single woman anymore who takes estrogen tablets.

It's not a big issue to me personally, because I don't plan to take hormone therapy, although I have a gyn who would prescribe it if I wanted it. There are side effects to all hormone treatments/supplements, and I'm wondering why it seems to be much more acceptable to take testosterone if you're a man, but not estrogen, if you're a woman.

Any thoughts? Is there some type of double standard at play? What do you guys think?

The only reason for the double standard at this point is due to the results of the treatment for women being in and not for men. Once its shown it causes cancer as well you will see the same rejection from doctors to give it to anyone.

 

[Your Star]

A little off-topic, but who else finds those commercials for this rather creepy? :lol:

 

[lizzie]

A little off-topic, but who else finds those commercials for this rather creepy? :lol:

Well, I figure that I were a man, and started feeling the signs of aging, and they included a lessening ability to have sex, I'd look past the creep factor.

That is terribly difficult on a man.

 

[Henrin]

A little off-topic, but who else finds those commercials for this rather creepy? :lol:

Creepy with a little bit of weird.

 

[Henrin]

Well, I figure that I were a man, and started feeling the signs of aging, and they included a lessening ability to have sex, I'd look past the creep factor.

That is terribly difficult on a man.

That part doesn't both me. What bothers me is that once my levels start to go down I will have a harder and harder time to keep the body I want it. I'm a huge fitness nut that lifts hours a day(not joking), so its a big deal for me. I would rather not see my workouts just become less effective because something lame like hormones.

 

[MaggieD]

Just an observation, and something I've been thinking about.

I remember about 10-15 years ago, when the scare about female sex hormone replacement became a pretty widely publicized issue, and many women were taken off their HRT by their physicians, after they had been taking hormone replacement for sometimes, decades. Fast-forward to around 5 years ago. Low testosterone became an issue in advertising, and over the past year or so, I've really noticed an upswing in the numbers of men who take testosterone supplements. A couple of months ago, I was waiting in line at a pharmacy, and the man next to me had given his rx for testosterone to the pharmacy tech, who informed him that they were out of stock, and waiting for a shipment. I personally have several male friends who take testosterone, and I don't know a single woman anymore who takes estrogen tablets.

It's not a big issue to me personally, because I don't plan to take hormone therapy, although I have a gyn who would prescribe it if I wanted it. There are side effects to all hormone treatments/supplements, and I'm wondering why it seems to be much more acceptable to take testosterone if you're a man, but not estrogen, if you're a woman.

Any thoughts? Is there some type of double standard at play? What do you guys think?

I'd say you've hit on something. In my opinion, guys must be suckers for that crap figuring it'll make them more virile. I say that because of The Little Blue Pill. "If you experience a four-hour erection...." (Call a friend.) Judging by all the junk email I get about penis enlargement and staying power, it must be something that's on guys' minds quite frequently.

I wonder if guys are aware of the risk of taking testosterone as it relates to prostate cancer. I'd bet not.

 

[Henrin]

I'd say you've hit on something. In my opinion, guys must be suckers for that crap figuring it'll make them more virile. I say that because of The Little Blue Pill. "If you experience a four-hour erection...." (Call a friend.) Judging by all the junk email I get about penis enlargement and staying power, it must be something that's on guys' minds quite frequently.

I wonder if guys are aware of the risk of taking testosterone as it relates to prostate cancer. I'd bet not.

You will find that many men are like me and don't care. I'm just sayin'..

 

[lizzie]

You will find that many men are like me and don't care. I'm just sayin'..

I honestly don't think many men are like you, in that respect. Sexual performance is a huge factor in the self-esteem of alot of men. Often, they don't seem to realize how much so, until they start having difficulty. We women have it pretty easy, in that regard. Whether or not we really feel like it, we can still have sex.

 

[Lutherf]

Not once they start aging significantly. Just as women have changes from drops in hormone levels, men do as well.

That's true. Shortly after my 45th I was shocked to discover that I actually did have an opinion on china patterns. Frankly, it was rather disconcerting.

 

[Lutherf]

Well, I figure that I were a man, and started feeling the signs of aging, and they included a lessening ability to have sex, I'd look past the creep factor.

That is terribly difficult on a man.

It isn't so much a lack of the ability as it is an increase in the desire to nap before, during and after.

 

[Rainman05]

I initially read: Hermione replacement and double-standard ; and I thought: What the hell? Who wants to replace Hermione? And are they making a new Harry Potter? And is it going to be a porno? why is it in sex and sexuality?

And then I woke up.

 

[lizzie]

That's true. Shortly after my 45th I was shocked to discover that I actually did have an opinion on china patterns. Frankly, it was rather disconcerting.

:nahnah:

 

[SmokeAndMirrors]

Well, I figure that I were a man, and started feeling the signs of aging, and they included a lessening ability to have sex, I'd look past the creep factor.

That is terribly difficult on a man.

I think this is part of it right here. There's a lot of stigma against men if they can't "get it up" on the drop of a dime, and PIV is often considered the only "real sex" in the straight world. It's also part of the culture of youth idolization.

Older people in general just have to take more time with it, and there's lots of ways to have sex that don't necessarily require an erection made of steel.

I also think it's often a case of medicating symptoms and not causes. Man-o-pause does drop T levels and does mean it'll take more work to have sex, but a lot of the time, that's not the only problem American men have.

Obesity and diabetes cause a whole slew of sexual function problems, including increased estrogen levels. As we know, the majority of Americans are overweight. A lot of these guys may find an improvement if they got into better shape.

A healthy older man should at least have some drive well into his 70's and beyond. A lack of drive, or a total lack of sexual function, is often due to obesity-related health problems, not just lower T levels.

Guys should do what makes the most sense for them medically and personally, but they don't have to be ashamed of the fact that they don't get an erection in a stiff breeze anymore, and they might benefit more with fewer risks from looking at their general health, rather than just focusing on testosterone and erection speed.

 

[Risky Thicket]

Well, I figure that I were a man, and started feeling the signs of aging, and they included a lessening ability to have sex, I'd look past the creep factor.

That is terribly difficult on a man.

When the time comes, damned if I'm going to take anything that makes me sit in separate bathtubs on the beach and hold hands with my wife. What the hell is that all about?

Now, if I see raucous commercials with the Rolling Stones' I Know It's Only Rock n Roll loud, giggling wimmins in various stages of undress, cigars, laughter, and liquor flowing, and some old sumbitch in the middle of it grinning like mule eating dry briars, I'll buy truck loads of whatever it is that makes that happen.

Too much just ain't enough!